The BreadCast

(Sir.1:1-10; Ps.93:1-2,5; Mk.9:14-29) "There is but one, wise and truly awe-inspiring, seated upon His throne: It is the Lord." "The Lord is King, in splendor robed," and He alone knows "wisdom's root" and all "her subtleties"; for it is He who created her and "poured her forth upon all His works." And so He alone, whose "throne stands firm from of old," He alone understands all things, and can answer any question. And should we not be awestruck by His presence? That the Lord is robed in splendor as King over all we have seen only recently. Even today He descends from the mountain on which He was transfigured; and though His face no longer shines more brightly than the sun, yet "immediately on catching sight of Jesus, the whole crowd was overcome with awe" and rushed up to Him, for still His glorious presence overwhelms. At the base of the mountain the crowd and the disciples are engaged with the scribes "in a lively discussion" about the condition and fate of a poor child horribly possessed by a demon. Their words are empty wind, but the one with all answers approaches. And with a measure of faith from the boy's father and those surrounding, He casts out the devil which even the disciples could not command, and which the scribes could not comprehend. "What an unbelieving lot [we] are! How long must [the Lord] remain with [us]? How long can [He] endure" our lack of wisdom and grace? Brothers and sisters, why do we so lack faith? Why do we say to the Lord, "If you can"? Do we not know that "everything is possible to a man who trusts"? Do we think the Lord's power is somehow cut short? Yes, we are weak and pitiable creatures, blind to the glory which surrounds us, but He is not! He is that glory, and that glory He shines for us. We need but come to Him with the awe the crowd shows today, and He will do all things for us. "All wisdom comes from the Lord and with Him it remains forever"; and for us "fear of the Lord is glory and splendor," for by fear of the Lord are we graced with His wisdom. And then what shall we lack of His power? Indeed, we shall by holy fear come to know the "holiness [that] befits [His] house" and so dwell with Him who is "from everlasting." Do you believe this, my brother, my sister? Come to the One who is seated far above us, and you shall do His work here on earth with the wisdom His Blessed Mother imparts to all her blessed children. ******* O LORD, in your wisdom and majesty you save us from all evil; let us stand with you in holiness. YHWH, shine your wisdom upon us like holy light; let us grope in darkness no more, blind to your presence. Jesus your Son has come down from the mountain to remain with us – may we run to Him for healing. If wisdom had not been revealed to us, how would we know your majesty, LORD? If the Christ had not come to us, what would we know of your glory? But as it is, He has come, and in Him all things are ours to know. As it is, the Spirit now breathes upon us. May we be blessed with fear of you, O LORD our God, that all demons may be cast from our hearts and we might stand in strength with your only Son. O let us have faith in Him and the power at His command! Let us know that we are the work of your hands and to holiness in your House you call us. In awe let us come before you.

(1Sm.26:2,7-9,12-13,22-23; Ps.103:1-4,8,10,12-13; 1Cor.15:45-49; Lk.6:27-38) "Who can lay hands on the Lord's anointed and remain unpunished?" This does David say of Saul the king of Israel – of him who has come into the desert to hunt David down and kill him – even as he stands beside a sleeping Saul, well able to "nail him to the ground with one thrust of the spear." But even though it seems that "God has delivered [his] enemy into [David's] grasp," he foregoes the opportunity, humbly respecting him whom God has ordained. Thus does he presage Christ's own teaching to "love your enemies." It is so in the heavenly teaching of the Lord that we who are to be like "the second man, from heaven," and not like "the first [who] was from earth, earthly"; it is so that if we are to hear His words and be like Christ Himself – and who else is there to be like? – we must treat all men as David treats Saul, as if God's anointing is upon them. All must be respected as blessed by God; all must be loved as His children. Even if they hunt us down and kill us, even if they take all things from us, yet we must pray for their souls… for still God's blessing is upon them, and we must bless them with Him. Brothers and sisters, "He Himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked." Do you see this? Though in the end He will judge (and not we), yet nothing cuts short the love of God; no act of man keeps him from the Lord's abundant grace. And we must "be merciful, just as [our] Father is merciful," if we hope to come into His kingdom and look upon His face. For only those who are of Him enter there. If you love as a sinner loves, if you love like an earthly man, with an earthly mind and an earthly heart, expecting something in return, how can you hope to be where He is, He who does not measure His love in earthly terms? Unending is His love, surpassing all and overwhelming all in its infinite greatness… and will you count the pennies that you offer? You need only look upon the cross, upon the corpus fixed firmly there, to see the love to which you are called: you must "bear the image of the heavenly" man. And you need only look clearly at what the Lord has done in your own life, He who "pardons all your iniquities, [who] heals all your ills," to understand His call. "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He put our transgressions from us." And should we not do the same for others who have sinned against us, who have nailed us to the tree? Or would you fall short of His love? "Merciful and gracious is the Lord," and if He does not "requite us according to our crimes" but treats us "as a father [who] has compassion on his children," so all men should be as the Lord's blessed children in our eyes. Written, Read, and Chanted by James Kurt. Music: "True Love" from Loving Spirit, third album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, help us to love our enemies even as your Son has done for all of us sinners. YHWH, you are gracious and merciful, but we are weak and sinful. How shall we be like you? How shall we bear the image of your Son? How shall we move from being earthly to heavenly men? Indeed, it is only by your mercy. O LORD, we must reflect your great mercy if we are to find the mercy we so desperately need for our own souls. And sharing in this mercy of yours is mercy itself, is your greatest gift to us, your poor creatures. What more could we hope for than to be like you? For what more could we ask than to be of your love? You it is who pardon all our iniquities, who spare sinful man. Though our deeds against you deserve death, though for our crimes we merit destruction – though we should be nailed to the ground with one thrust of your spear, we are freed from such a fate by your Son's sacrifice on the Cross… and we are called to join Him there. Forgive all who sin against us, LORD, that we might be saved.

(1Pt.5:1-4; Ps.23:1-6; Mt.16:13-19) "On this rock I will build my Church." And Simon's name is changed to "Peter", which means "Rock", to signify that here is the chief shepherd of the Church, upon whom the Church on earth rests. It is he to whom Jesus gives "the keys to the kingdom of heaven." Though all the apostles are given the power to bind and loose, it is Peter who leads – "a fellow elder" among all the elders and yet the one who speaks for all. It is not by man's decision that Peter is the Rock of the Church, but by the word of the Lord Himself. Just as "no mere man ha[d] revealed" to him that Jesus is "the Messiah… the Son of the living God," so no mere man works through him today as our Pope guides the ship that is the Church by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is led by the Church and its teachings we are guided "in right paths." It is as we dwell in this "house of the Lord" that we are protected from all harm. "The Lord is my shepherd," and the Shepherd of all, and into the hands of Peter and the apostles He places care for His flock. How well this first among equals instructs his fellow shepherds today in his letter: "God's flock is in your midst; give it a shepherd's care." How well does Peter answer the Lord's call to strengthen his brothers, to see that His sheep are fed. The key pitfalls of "coercion" and "shameful profit" and "lording it over those assigned" to them, he warns them clearly against, and reminds them of "the unfading crown of glory" that awaits them. It is they who must give "courage" to the flock, they who anoint heads with oil to make the cup of the Church overflow, even here on earth… and as they are faithful, they are Christ's own special children. To those who still doubt the primacy of Peter and its absolute necessity, I invite you to read again Scripture and notice how often and always Peter speaks for the whole and acts for the whole body as he does today. It is to all the apostles Jesus asks, "Who do you say that I am?" and though all may have faith, only one speaks up and answers in no uncertain terms. As he does at the first council at Jerusalem, as he did in coming to the Lord on the water, Peter speaks and leads in the power of the Spirit. The Church is one in Christ, and it has one rock it is set upon. Written, read & chanted, and produced by Carie Fortney. Music by Carie Fortney; used by permission. ******* O LORD, as long as we remain in your House we shall be secure, for the faith of Peter will strengthen us. YHWH, the keys of the kingdom of Heaven you entrust to Peter; he is the Rock upon which your Church is set, the chief Shepherd leading all the rest. Though your Son alone be the cornerstone, the true foundation of this House, it is into the hands of Peter you entrust your flock by his confession of faith. You are at his side always, ever assisting him in leading the ewes with care. It is by your Spirit he rules this House, generously giving his life in union with Jesus, our Savior. And so, in verdant pastures your sheep make their home. In your presence we are blessed to remain by your grace upon our souls, dearest LORD. O living God, bless this day all your bishops and priests, and especially the Holy Father. You indeed bless them by revealing yourself to them and strengthening them for the work they must accomplish. With them may we all walk in the footsteps of your Son, laying down our lives for all, that we might come to eternal rest in the glory of your kingdom.

(Gn.11:1-9; Ps.33:10-15; Mk.8:34-9:1) "What profit does a man show who gains the whole world and destroys himself in the process?" Listen to what the men of old said among themselves at a time when "the whole world spoke the same language, using the same words." As they were migrating, they stopped in a valley and declared: "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and so make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered all over the earth." Hear how their desires reflect the Lord's warning, "Whoever would save his life will lose it." For the Lord will thwart their plans made in a vain pride quite apart from Him and see that what they fear shall indeed come to pass – from this point they shall be forced to continue their migration, being scattered to the four corners of the earth. Like David when he sought to number the people in his kingdom rather than allowing their increase in the sight of God, they do not put trust in the Lord but in the work of their own hands to make themselves a name. And such work, such plans, cannot but come to ruin. "The Lord brings to naught the plans of nations; He foils the designs of peoples"; only "the plan of the Lord stands forever, the design of His heart, through all generations." And we must thank God that this is so. For left to our own devices, we would go on "doing whatever [we] presume to do." Thus does God save us from doing as we please because "He who fashioned the heart of each, He who knows all their works," knows well how inclined the human heart is to evil; He has witnessed the destruction that ensues when we are left to ourselves, and from this fate He would rescue our souls. And so does He "confuse their language" at the Tower of Babel; so from there "He scattered them all over the earth" – to keep them from the sinful plots they would concoct. Of course, our tongues are united again after Pentecost; we become one people under one God once more. And indeed, "happy [is] the nation whose God is the Lord." But those who are set apart from Him, who do not lose their lives "for [His] sake and the Gospel's," do better in separation, where their sin is not as able to thrive. And so, until that day "when He comes with the holy angels in His Father's glory," until the time of fulfillment of the coming oneness of all the children of God, only those who dedicate themselves entirely to Jesus and His cross will "see the reign of God established in power" here on this earth – even as "this faithless and corrupt age" courts its inevitable destruction in its unyielding pride. ******* O LORD, let it be your reign we seek and not our own, that our work might be blessed and not cast to the ground. YHWH, vision of you alone let us desire. Your reign established in power let us see coming even this day. This world shall soon pass away; upon it let us not set our hearts or we shall die in a vain pride. If we seek to serve you, LORD, laying down our lives under the Cross with Jesus your Son, then alone will we be blessed and dwell in the City you prepare for us. But if we seek to make a name for ourselves, if by our own hands we would build our house – if we think we can raise bricks on this earth to attain to your heavenly kingdom, we shall be cast down to that earth in which we put our trust. O LORD, it is you who fashioned and made us and we can do nothing of worth apart from you. If we turn our backs to the way you mark out for us, we shall be aimless wanderers on this earth. Let our words only praise you and your glory and we shall share in your reign.

(Gn.9:1-13; Ps.102:16-23,29; Mk.8:27-33) "The children of your servants shall abide, and their posterity shall continue in your presence." In our first reading from Genesis, God remakes the world. As once He sent forth Adam and Eve upon their creation, so now He blesses Noah and his sons with the same words: "Be fertile and multiply and fill the earth." Here we are reminded that "in the image of God has man been made," and once again God calls man to "abound on the earth and subdue it," giving him power over all its living creatures. And now a promise is added, a covenant is made "between [God] and the earth," sealed with the sign of the rainbow – "never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood; there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth"… We shall endure on the land He has made for us. And the Lord works to remake His people in our gospel as well, as "on the way He ask[s] His disciples… 'Who do you say that I am?'" He is the new Creation, He is "the Messiah," and in Him all children shall be remade in the image of God, shall become as His only Son. And these truly shall endure, their posterity shall continue forever in the presence of Him who never dies. Even after the final destruction of this earth and those who cling to it by the fire of God, even beyond the covenant made with Noah, which shall so soon pass with the dust from which we were made… eternally we shall remain in the new heavens and the new earth, the ones which themselves will never pass away. For God's promise to Noah is only for as long as the earth endures, but the earth is indeed passing away: only the covenant Jesus is bringing to His disciples and their posterity is one which is lasting as Heaven. But to achieve this covenant, to found it firmly in the soul of Peter and his brothers and all us children of these servants, death must come to the only Son, and so surely to us all. The paradox seems difficult to comprehend, but with the vision of God, who "look[s] down from His holy height," it is easy to see: as long as the earth endures and we upon it, so long shall sin also endure. (This is what the Lord sees when "from heaven He [beholds] the earth.") Thus the only way to "release those doomed to die" by their imprisonment to sin is for the corrupted vessel in which we dwell to pass from the Lord's sight. Thus does Jesus Christ die. This must He do in the place of evil man and all his abominations that the world now in the hands of Satan might be destroyed, and the Spirit of God come to life. And so His sacrifice brings our salvation, brings us new life in the New Jerusalem, where the servants of the Lord increase and multiply. In the domain He has prepared by His blood, let us ever remain. ******* O LORD, look down and save us from destruction by the sacrifice of your only Son. YHWH, what do you see as you look down on us from your holy height? Can you be pleased with your creatures if they do not follow your ways? You desire to give us the earth and all it holds, but we are not worthy of such a gift. And so you send your only Son to redeem us, to remake us in your image, that we might be pleasing to you and that we might inherit not just this world but eternal life in Him who dies for us. Praise you for your kindness toward us! Let us come to Him and follow in His way. Jesus dies for us, LORD. In flesh He comes and offers His life that all the corruption upon us might be taken away, that it might die with Him on the Cross. And should we not follow Him to the Cross? Should we not see that all that is evil in us dies with Him that we might rise unto your heavenly kingdom? O let it be so! Let us come to the place where we shall never be destroyed. Look down upon us and hear our prayer.

(Gn.8:6-13,20-22; Ps.116:12-15,17-19; Mk.8:22-26) "Noah then removed the covering of the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was drying up." A return to earth, the flood waters having ceased. A new day dawns in this "the first month, on the first day of the month." The world is made anew, and it shall last, and man shall last upon it, until the last day comes. Here is the second Creation, the first re-creation… the new generation extending from Noah. After the cleansing rain, a soft white glow is upon the earth, a radiance of God's presence. Gradually it comes to us, this vision of new life that is the Lord Himself. Three times Noah sent the dove forth from the ark before the blessed moment came when "it did not come back," when all could rejoice that the waters had subsided. And twice the Lord touched the blind man's eyes before "his sight was restored and he could see everything clearly." Just as first the dove came back quickly, then with a "plucked-off olive leaf" in its bill (showing that the tops of trees were visible), before finding a place to make a home; so first the man sees people "like walking trees" before the Lord touches Him again and perfect vision becomes his own. It is only gradually – day by day, week by week, year by year – that we come to full awareness of the Lord and with Him make our home. And once out of the ark, "Noah built an altar to the Lord." And how pleased the Lord is with the "sweet odor" of the sacrifice he offers. Here is the beginning of the sacrifices at the heart of Jewish worship which shall find their place in the temple at Jerusalem, "in the courts of the house of the Lord," and know their fulfillment in the eternal sacrifice of the only Son. Of course, it is not the odor alone which pleases the Lord, but what it signifies: Noah thinks first of Him who always thinks of us first, and so engages God in a marvelous mutual love. Here our second human father reveals to the Lord that the goodness He has planted in us is not gone, that it is not necessarily so that "the desires of man's heart are evil from the start," that he is capable of love… though this truth shall not be known in full until the redemptive offering of Christ on the cross. "As long as the earth lasts, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease," and mankind shall not be struck again from the land. "How shall [we] make a return to the Lord" for this special blessing? And how shall we repay Him for "the cup of salvation" we now "take up," the cup which holds the blood of the Son? For Noah's sacrifice is indeed made complete in our midst, before our eyes, and the waters that once threatened to overwhelm us now recede as we discover our home in the heavenly kingdom. We must show that the fullness of God's love exists in us and join our lives to our Savior's holy sacrifice. ******* O LORD, open our eyes that we might know your presence among us and offer you due praise in the sacrifice of our lives. YHWH, may our sacrifice be acceptable in your sight. May it come from a sincere heart and express our gratitude for saving us from the overwhelming waters of our sins. May it be joined to the sacrifice of your Son and so be fruitful, and so serve to keep us from all harm and bring us to your kingdom. Our blindness we beg you cure, LORD, by the grace at the hands of Jesus. May He take us aside and place us in your presence that we might be healed of all that keeps us from knowing you and praising you for your goodness. Help us to have faith that you are leading us to the land you promise, to the new heavens and new earth. For this grace let us ever call upon your NAME. And help us to make return to you, O LORD, you who alone deserve our worship and love. A holy offering may we lift up even as we lay down our lives with your only Son.

(Gn.6:5-8,7:1-5,10; Ps.29:1-4,9-11; Mk.8:14-21) "The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the Lord, over vast waters." "Mighty" indeed is the voice of God, but who can hear it? Who listens to its "majestic" ringing in their ears? In the time of Noah the Lord's "heart was grieved," for He "saw how great was man's wickedness on earth, and how no desire that his heart conceived was ever anything but evil." So great was the Lord's grief over man's disobedience that He uttered the saddest words we could hear: "I am sorry I made them," and resolved to "wipe [them] out from the earth." If we have not pleased our Father, what hope have we of life? If we have not listened to His voice, what can we hear but a sentence of condemnation? It seems Jesus' heart is grieved, too, today at His disciples' ignorance of His instruction. Here in a boat upon the waters His voice chastises their slowness to comprehend His call to wakefulness in the Spirit: "Are your minds completely blinded? Have you eyes but no sight? Ears but no hearing?" and finally, "Do you still not understand?" And though He seems eminently frustrated by the fact that their vision is still trained so stubbornly on the bread of earth rather than the Bread of heaven, though they so quickly forget the miracles He has worked and the power He has revealed, yet He shall not remove them from His sight, but continue in patience with their schooling. For just as "Noah found favor with the Lord" and thus served to salvage our race from utter destruction, so the Lord's apostles have found favor with Him. And Jesus knows that as "Noah did just as the Lord had commanded him," putting complete faith in God's word, so these disciples will also in strength and in faith carry out His mission after His own death and resurrection, after His ascension into heaven… and with the Holy Spirit's power upon them. As in Noah's ark God keeps man's "issue alive over all the earth," preserving them from the flood, so now in the barque of Peter "all the [Lord's] household" takes refuge from the fiery destruction that is coming upon the world in these the last days. Like the "one loaf" the disciples hold in their hands is the Church of the Lord – it is all that is needed for food in this world. And so as we sail along to the farther shore, let us listen to God's mighty voice speaking through Her. As the end approaches, be sure to heed the Lord's instruction: "Keep your eyes open!" Beware the hypocrisy and pride of the powers that be. ******* O LORD, how shall we be just in your sight and begin to understand your majesty and glory? YHWH, you are majestic, exalted far above earth and sea and every living creature. But we are deaf and blind to your ways, and so, beset by wickedness. How shall we hear your mighty voice calling to us over the waters, calling to us in your Son? How shall we heed the thunder of your glory and praise you in your Temple with full voice? How do we begin to understand what is far beyond our poor minds? Send your Spirit upon us, LORD, that we might know and eat the Bread that is your Son, that we might be saved from the destruction that is coming upon all living things. Into your Ark let us come, into your holy Church; with your apostles let us dwell, enlightened by your teaching and sharing in your food. The Bread of Heaven make our own, LORD, that we might rise above the earth to where you dwell enthroned in glory and majesty with your only Son.

(Gn.4:1-15,25; Ps.50:1,8,14,16-17,20-21; Mk.8:11-13) "Sin is a demon lurking at the door: his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master." Thus does the Lord encourage Cain not to hang his head at his failures in worship but to learn from his errors and be strong. Here already in Scripture we see how redemption is possible, how God gives us power to conquer sin. But Cain does not fight off the demon at his door but instead attacks his brother Abel, killing him who has overcome sin. The jealous demons write their name in Abel's blood, by the hand of Cain his brother. And the Pharisees are the same as Cain. It is they of whom our psalmist sings, they who "recite [the Lord's] statutes, and profess [His] covenant with [their] mouth," but whose hearts are far from Him and who "hate discipline and cast [His] words behind" themselves. It is they who "sit speaking against [their] brother," for indeed they come to "argue with Jesus," to "test" Him who is most especially their brother, who is their Messiah. And it is they who will shed their brother's blood, who will conspire to kill their own "mother's Son." And though Jesus Himself "correct[s] [them] by drawing [their sin] up before [their] eyes," yet, like Cain, they refuse to see the evil taking hold of them, and so will be unable to turn from it. And their punishment shall be greater than that of Cain, for so much greater is their sin. As Cain is banished from the soil which had been his own, so the covenant which the Lord had given into the Chosen people's possession shall be taken from their leaders' hands, and they shall be left empty – except for the hope of turning to Him and cleansing themselves in Jesus' blood. The sign the Pharisees seek is essentially one they would make with their own hands, one which they would find at their command. But "no such sign will be given" them, for then truly would they be condemned. They must come to the sign Jesus is and accept it as the Lord God offers – their attempts to control the Father's will are perhaps the most tragic of transgressions. They say, as does Cain, that God must accept matters their way and are not humble to His Son's teaching. And so, sadly for them, "He left them" there on the shore alone, burning in their jealousy. Fight the demons, brothers and sisters. Ward off sin in all its forms. The Lord promises we shall have the strength, if we are willing to turn from our sins and accept His chastising word… and wash ourselves in His cleansing blood. But if we remain "resentful" and so "deaf" to the Lord's correction, what shall save our souls? And with Cain we will wander restlessly the earth, avoiding the glorious presence of the Lord. ******* O LORD, we are a jealous race; forgive our shedding the blood of our Brother. YHWH, how sinful we are! How we turn our hand against our brother, inflicting upon him the punishment for our guilt. In condemning others we seek to rid ourselves of the condemnation we deserve; but this only brings the punishment on our own heads. Help us to admit our sin and turn away from it! Killing our Brother will not free us from the death upon our souls. O LORD, how can we be so blind, so hardhearted, as to think such wickedness is our salvation? Jesus comes to us as our Brother, as the one closest to us and most concerned for our well-being… but we cannot bear to hear His voice speaking of our need to turn away from sin, and so, what can we do but kill Him? O set us free from bloodguilt! Accept the sacrifice of a pure heart, dear God; make our offering to you sincere. Our very hearts let us give in the service of our brother.

(Jer.17:5-8; Ps.1:1-4,6,40:5; 1Cor.15:12,16-20; Lk.6:17,20-26) "If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all." For His reward is in heaven; His kingdom is not of the earth. And our faith is in His resurrection. It is not to this world we come, not in the things of the earth we make our boast, for he "who seeks his strength in flesh" is he "whose heart turns away from the Lord" and His holy kingdom… but we are among those "whose hope is the Lord." The contrast could not be clearer than it is today in our readings: on the one hand is he who "delights in the law of the Lord" and so follows His ways; and on the other, he who "walks in the way of sinners," finding his delight in the world. And the blessing and the curse each respectively finds is also made obvious for us – one path leads to resurrection and life, the other to a miserable death. And which shall we choose, the kingdom of God or the prison of man… the blessing or the curse? "Woe to you who are rich… to you who are filled now… to you who laugh," for a fate worse than death awaits you – the pleasures you take in your insolence will soon turn to the most despicable bitterness. You stand "in a lava waste, a salt and empty earth," and in it you shall sink if you do not soon look to the light of Christ. The poor and hungry souls who weep and mourn for your salvation, who suffer persecution by your haughty tongue will soon "rejoice and leap for joy" – on the day of resurrection you can count. And what will become of your own soul when you stand, or cringe, before the otherworldly light of your Creator? What shall you then say? The time is short. The rewards of heaven are near. Let us take strength in the Lord's resurrection. Let us bear joyfully His cross. Though drought be upon the land, and though it show itself in His Church, we must be one with Him who "still bears fruit," planted eternally beside the nourishing streams of our Christ. Him they stripped of even His clothing; His skin they scourged at the devil's command. His flesh they nailed to the dying tree – a worm and no man. But He lives, be assured of this; His Spirit never fails. And body and soul He looks out from heaven, waiting for us to join Him there… Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Ballad to the World" from Remove the Mask of Lies, second album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, let us not know the curse of the world's acceptance and your rejection, but the blessing of being your humble children. YHWH, like a tree planted near running water let us be, fruitful as your Son who alone has your Spirit upon Him. Why should we turn to things that take us from your way? Why should we desire to stand in an empty, lava waste? His Cross let us lift up onto our shoulders, that we might rise to you. O LORD, let us not follow the way of the wicked and so be driven to distress. Their counsel let us not take upon ourselves. Let us rather trust in your Son and meditate on His Word day and night. For here is wisdom that reaches unto Heaven. Here in the call to lay down our lives, to die with your Christ, we find our way to eternal life, where we will leap for joy forevermore. Our hunger now is but a yearning for your face, our weeping but a cry to look upon you. And in such suffering itself we find your presence, LORD, for we share this grief with your Son, who now reigns on high.

(Gn.3:9-24; Ps.90:1-6,12-13; Mk.8:1-10) "You are dust, and to dust you shall return." Because of the fall we come face-to-face with this truth: our own mortality, our own humility, that we are but a creature made from the dust of the earth. And this truth we must understand. Because we have "eaten from the tree of which [God] had forbidden [us] to eat," "thorns and thistles" the earth brings forth for us and "by the sweat of [our] face shall [we] get bread to eat," until we learn our place – for our own sakes – before our Creator, or "until we return to the ground, from which we were taken." "Cursed be the ground because of you!" the Lord God exclaims to the man. The womb of the woman, like the earth for man, shall bring her pain in bearing children, in bearing her fruit… and the serpent shall eat dust "all the days of [his] life." If now we should eat of the tree of life, to what state would we be condemned! How shall we be saved from such a fate, wherein our own flesh brings upon us such pangs – how shall we escape ourselves? And how shall we look upon God again? "Teach us to number our days aright," our psalmist cries, "that we may gain wisdom of heart." And what is he asking but that we realize, as God would teach us, that though He is "from everlasting to everlasting," that though for Him "a thousand years are as… a watch of the night," we are "like the changing grass, which at dawn springs up anew, but by evening wilts and fades." So passing is our life. This indeed we must comprehend, for this is truth, and failing to understand it we shall not find answer to our prayer: "Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants!" But knowing our limitations before our God, He comes quickly to remedy our weakness. See how Jesus looks upon those who "were without anything to eat," those whose bodies fainted before His eyes. Listen to the thought of His heart: "My heart is moved with pity for the crowd. By now they have been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way. Some of them have come a great distance." Oh how the Lord has pity on us! Oh how He knows our plight – that we are but fading grass, having been far removed from His sight! And how He wills to feed us, to nourish those who come to Him, who share the "three days" of His trial. For though they toiled not, "the people in the crowd ate their fill" in the most peaceful of fields. The Lord had come to save them! And now eternal life is upon them. Brothers and sisters, we need no longer fear our dying flesh, for the Lord feeds us with Bread that does not fail, that brings life eternal to the lowly body that eats it. And so, no longer are we dust alone, though to dust our body may return. But we become eternal souls in the hand of our Savior, eating from the tree of life He is. In all humility let us receive His gift, His saving presence among us. And to God we shall return, and now forever. ******* O LORD, feed us with the Bread of life that we might lie in the dust no more. YHWH, have pity on our weakness, for our flesh is like the changing grass – we do but wilt and fade. Weak in body and in spirit we find ourselves separated from you by our sins, by our disobedience to your command. You care only for our good; let us come to you and remain with you till you take pity on our souls. You give us food to eat, O LORD, even the body of your only Son. Let us not prefer the food of this world or that which the devil offers. If our eyes are opened unto death, if we but see our weakness, our nakedness before you, without realizing your eternal love… to what end shall we come? We shall but return to dust. Your punishments are good, LORD; your chastisements are what heal our tortured souls. Let our suffering be joined to Jesus' own, that we shall hunger for you alone, and in our humility you will be quick to feed us and return us to your fold.