The BreadCast

(Ti.3:1-7; Ps.23:1-6; Lk.17:11-19) "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" Such is the cry of the ten lepers standing at a distance from the Lord. And such is the cry that wells up in all our hearts when we realize we must keep ourselves far from His company for the sin that festers like a disease in our souls. Desiring no longer to be outcasts from His love, we call out… and He answers. Do you think you are something different than these lepers? Do you think your status with God is somehow raised above these poor souls? Beware. Heed the words of Paul: "We ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and far from the faith; we were the slaves of our passions and of pleasures of various kinds." Was our soul not then in a diseased state? And was it any work of our own that brought us healing, that brought us to "baptism of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit"? No. Rather, "when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of any righteous deeds we had done, but because of His mercy." So, by rights we should yet be in the mire of our sin; we should yet be as lepers outside the gates of salvation. But His "Spirit He lavished on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, that we might be justified by His grace and become heirs, in hope, of eternal life." And do we appreciate what He has done for us? Indeed the Lord indicates today that most of us are ungrateful wretches when He asks, "Were not all ten made whole? Where are the other nine?" at the sight of the single leper returning to give praise to God. "Where are the other nine?" Only one of ten falls "on his face at the feet of Jesus"; and to how many of us does this lack of thanksgiving speak? And so, how many of us remain with more than a trace of our leprosy? "He refreshes my soul," David sings in humble appreciation of the blessings of the Lord he finds before himself in all things. It is He who gives "repose"; it is He who "anoints [our] head with oil"… it is He who cleanses our soul. And if we fail to realize this grace at work within us, then a measure of pollution remains, and still we need to cry out to our God, and fall on our knees in praise for His answer. Ever is He our Master; ever are we His slaves – ever do we need His mercy to live in righteousness each day. ******* O LORD, save us from enslavement to our passions – let us have faith in you and in your grace upon our souls. YHWH, our faith has saved us, has it not? Our faith in you and in your Son has brought the Spirit upon us to cleanse us from our sin. Now we have new birth and look forward in hope of eternal life. You are ever at our side as we travel through this dark world. But do we give you due praise, O LORD? Do we see what you have done for us and bow before you in adoration, in recognition of your greatness? Without your grace we would yet be lost – help us remember it is only through you our cup overflows. And so, let us remain with you forever. What sin has been ours in the past, O LORD! What disease has troubled our souls! Though we have been rebellious before, let us now be obedient to your command and serve you and others as you call. The passions and pleasures that once enslaved us cast away, and let us be humble in your sight.

(Ti.2:1-8,11-14; Ps.37:3-4,18,23,27,29,39; Lk.17:7-10) "Live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age." Brothers and sisters, be "eager to do what is right" as servants of the Most High God. "Trust in the Lord and do good, that you may dwell in the land and enjoy security." For "the Lord watches over the lives of the wholehearted; their inheritance lasts forever." Paul gives instruction to all on how to live a godly life here on this earth. He "tell[s] the older men that they must be temperate, serious-minded, and self-controlled"; the older women that they must give "good example" to the younger women, teaching them thus "to love their husbands and children, to be sensible, chaste, loving at home, kindly, submissive to their husbands"; "the young men to keep themselves completely under control"; and those who teach to "have the integrity of serious, sound words to which no one can take exception." Then "no opponent will have anything bad to say about us"; then we will have given right witness to Christ in this age. And "when [we] have done all [we] have been commanded to do" by the Lord and His apostles, when we have fully served Him and one another in our life on this earth – when we have finished "prepar[ing] [His] supper" and "put[ting] on our apron and wait[ing]" on our brothers – what should we do but say in all humility and in all truth: "We are useless servants. We have done no more than our duty"? For this is what will assure us that we will "abide forever"; this will prove that we are as our Lord, "who sacrificed Himself for us," and so, with "the just [we] shall possess the land, and dwell in it forever." Our God has come "to redeem us from all unrighteousness and to cleanse us for Himself as a people of His own." Let us show we are that people by ever being "sound in the faith, loving, and steadfast," doing all for the Lord and our neighbor. In this way we indicate that even upon the dust of this earth "we await our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of the great God and of our Savior Jesus Christ." In this way we attain to the age to come, where we shall be seated at His table. ******* O LORD, help us to turn from all sinful ways and complete the work you command us to do. YHWH, we are useless servants; help us to fulfill the tasks you set before us, to be eager to do what is right. For this is what will gain us entrance to your kingdom, to a place at your table – if we live temperately, devoutly and justly in this world, as even your Son has done. Should we fall into disrepute? Should we not be self-controlled? It is serious work to which you call us, O LORD, and so let our words be sound and our behavior above reproach, and to you we shall be as witness and bring our souls with the souls of others into the security of your blessed land, where we shall dwell forever. We are blessed to do your work, LORD, to serve you in this world. For in such work you are with us; your will is accomplished even in this flesh and bone. And so, let us give ourselves entirely to you and to your ways, submissive in all things, and we shall be redeemed from all unrighteousness and cleansed for your kingdom.

(Ti.1:1-9; Ps.24:1-6; Lk.17:1-6) "Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?" "He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain." Of priests and holy men our readings speak, yes, but most especially of bishops, who are most entrusted with the Word of God, with the preaching of the Gospel of eternal life… and how silence in this regard leads but to condemnation. Paul sets the standard for the "servant of God." He presents himself "as an apostle of Jesus Christ for the sake of the faith of those whom God has chosen and to promote their knowledge of the truth as our religion embodies it." Here is the bishop in sum. Here is the priest in sum. Here is the sum of any sent to teach in His name: increase the faith and knowledge of the flock. And in this service certainly a priest must be "irreproachable," and "the bishop as God's steward must be blameless." He must be "steady, just, holy, and self-controlled. [And] in his teaching he must hold fast to the authentic message, so that he will be able both to encourage men to follow sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it." But how many of our leaders hold to Paul's words? How many encourage the keeping of sound doctrine, and, perhaps more to the point, how many refute error? Worse yet, how many travel merrily along with the error of the day? "If your brother does wrong, correct him," Jesus says. But how many tell their flock, "You should not fornicate or commit adultery" or "You should not abort a child or contracept him" or "You should not be 'self-willed or arrogant, a drunkard, a violent or greedy man'"? And how many freely engage in sins such as these themselves? Yes, Jesus says, "If he repents, forgive him" (even "seven times a day") of the brother in your care; but how can he repent if he knows nothing of the wrong he does, and how can you instruct him if you are committing the same sins as he? And so where is true forgiveness? "Scandals will inevitably arise, but woe to him through whom they come." It is a terrible warning the Lord gives today, particularly to those entrusted with much, for how great will be their punishment for the abuse of their call. And of course, the source of such travails in the wayward soul is simply a lack of faith. Not "the size of a mustard seed" or a speck of dust is the faith of too many. If even it could be detected with a microscope it would show itself in good works. But it is not there. And so, who indeed shall climb the mountain of the Lord? How many vainly grovel at its base? And if our leaders do not climb, how shall any follow? So, who shall come to holiness? Let us awaken to the call of our God! Let the Church serve as His presence in this world. Let us be "the race that seeks for Him," putting holiness before all else. And let the ordained among us lead us in this way. ******* O LORD, let us be men of faith who carry your Word forth blamelessly, that all may come to see your face. YHWH, how shall we serve you if we have not sinless hands or clean hearts? And so, how shall we find our reward in your kingdom? Will we not rather be cast into the sea for our unfaithfulness, for our failing to hold to your true teaching and leading others astray? Help us who are far from you. Forgive us our sins. Do we not travel blindly in this day, dear LORD, lacking the guidance of holy shepherds? Does your people not suffer for lack of knowledge of you and your ways? Is the truth not hidden from our eyes by the silence of your teachers? And are many not led away from you by their example? Who is there that stands in your stead; who climbs your holy mountain, making a way for others to follow? There are a few, no doubt; but are there not more who are afraid to speak in your NAME? Help us, LORD, for your Church shall be lost without the guidance of good shepherds. Encourage all souls to seek your face, and so find the blessings of Heaven.

(1Kgs.17:10-16; Ps.146:1,7-10; Heb.9:24-28; Mk.12:38-44) "She, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood." Jesus sits in the temple and watches as "the crowd put[s] money into the treasury." When He sees "a poor widow… put in two small coins worth a few cents," He calls His disciples over, and speaks the truth to them: "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury." Whatever wealth anyone else might have stuffed into the box cannot begin to compare to her whole sacrifice – it mimics His own. And in our first reading we find another poor widow sacrificing her livelihood to the Lord and His prophet. It is the time of a great famine upon the land (called down from heaven by Elijah himself) and the widow has nothing left to eat but "a handful of flour in [her] jar and a little oil in [her] jug." She tells us her situation: "Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die." A last supper. Straits most of us can only imagine. Yet when the prophet Elijah asks her, "First make me a little cake and bring it to me," invoking the name of the God of Israel and promising His blessings, this woman who is not even of the house of Israel does not hesitate to give first to this stranger of the only sustenance she has for herself and her son. Another sacrifice mimicking Christ's own. Both widows' sacrifices shall be blessed by the Lord; we can be assured of this. For "the widow He sustains"; it is He who "gives food to the hungry" and "protects strangers"… and any offering made in His name can only be multiplied. Indeed, Elijah proves himself not to be as the Pharisees who "devour the houses of widows," for by his presence with his benefactor "she was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well," the flour and the oil remaining until the rains returned. "The Lord keeps faith forever." Brothers and sisters, Christ "has appeared at the end of the age to take away sins by His sacrifice." He does this "once for all," and so does not "offer Himself repeatedly." But we, brothers and sisters, we must join with that sacrifice – it is for us to offer ourselves as He has, as these widows have, if we are to partake of its graces. As it is manifested on our altar each day, we renew our commitment to be sharers in the blood He shed. As we drink from His cup let us remember always that it is our very lives that we are giving up. And the Lord will bless us as His own. And with these widows we shall sit at His table in heaven. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Under God" from The Innocent Heart, first album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, we must give what we have to you or we shall have nothing. YHWH, help us to give our whole livelihood to you, to join in the sacrifice of your Son. For you will not abandon those who hunger for your love but bless them with all they need for their journey to Heaven. The widow you sustain, dear God; those who believe in you, you indeed bless. And we must show that we eagerly await the Second Coming of your Son by not being attached to the things of this passing earth. We must rather make known our faith in you by entrusting all into your hands. For Jesus, who has entered Heaven on our behalf, taking our sins with Him that we might be purged, will not abandon us on the last day if we offer ourselves in union with His sacrifice. All we have let us give to you, O LORD, even our food for the day, and you shall feed us from Heaven with the Bread that sustains all poor souls unto eternity. Our jar of flour shall not go empty nor our jug of oil run dry, for in them are the Body and Blood of your only Son.

(Phil.2:1-4; Ps.131:1-3; Lk.14:12-14) "Let all parties think humbly of others as superior to themselves, each of you looking to others' interests rather than his own." The key to Christianity is to see others, even the blind and the lame and the crippled beggar, as superior to ourselves, and place ourselves at their service in love. As Christians we can never look down upon another individual; if our heart is proud and our "eyes haughty," we are certainly set up for a fall, for the Lord who sees all and humbles Himself before all will certainly humble our proud souls. Rather, we must maintain the "fellowship in spirit, compassion, and pity" of which Paul speaks, "possessing the one love, united in spirit and ideals" and thus always giving one another the "encouragement" we owe in Christ. Jesus would teach this humility and unity of spirit to the chief of the Pharisees today. He would have him adopt a truly Christian attitude, expecting nothing in return for his feeding of the sheep, concerned only for the welfare of the poorest in his midst. Thus He would convert him to the faith by wiping the mocking smile from his face in a spirit of genuine compassion. He tells him, "Whenever you give a lunch or dinner, do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or wealthy neighbors." He should not be concerned simply with those of his blood and the people of means, for certainly these would "invite [him] in return and thus repay" him. No, quite a novel idea has the Son of God for the head of the Jewish Church: expect your recompense at "the resurrection of the just," not on earth. Set your heart on things that are above, not below. And go beyond your blood to invite all into the hall of the Lord, especially those most in need, those most outcast. Such a call must have been shocking to the sensibilities of this Pharisee, as indeed it remains shocking to most even today. But He only calls us to do as He has done – empty ourselves completely for the good of others. "Make my joy complete by your unanimity," Paul begs the Philippians; and unanimity in the Lord encompasses all. In it there can be no "rivalry or conceit" because in it there are no factions: all are one in the Lord. To this unity, found only in humility, the only Son does call us all, for He knows it is there we shall find our peace; in such humble service we find our eternal rest upon the lap of our Father. ******* O LORD, let us not seek our reward in the things of this world or follow in its ways; rather, in all humility let us find our peace in your arms. YHWH, help us to look to others' needs and not our own, to seek to serve you in all things, not looking for reward. How shall we be humble as your Son, placing ourselves entirely in your hands? How shall we become as your children if you do not bless us? For we are selfish and self-seeking and need your grace upon our souls to save us from such vain pride. To sacrifice your Son calls us, LORD, to unity with all our brothers and sisters. He would have us empty ourselves as He has done in coming among us and dying on the Cross. This great blessing He would make our own, if our desire were for Heaven. Give us, O LORD, true wisdom and peace of soul to see and know the glory to which Jesus calls us by His holy sacrifice, to share the love that exists between you and Him alone. O let us be your children! free of all snares of the flesh and the world and the devil, desiring only to sup with you.

(Dt.6:2-6; Ps.18:2-4,47,51; Heb.7:23-28; Mk.12:28-34) "You are not far from the kingdom of God." If you "fear the Lord, your God, and keep, throughout the days of your lives, all His statutes and commandments," you will have "long life"; the Lord will "give you a land flowing with milk and honey." The promise spoken by Moses to the people stands true, and truer, today. If we "take to heart these words which [both Moses and Jesus] enjoin on [us] today," the kingdom shall indeed be not far from us. For these words are life-giving, they are the heart of the law, the heart of God's love, and so breathe the breath of life upon the obedient soul: "Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." (And the seconding of the Commandment is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.") This Command, this word of Truth and Life, the ancient Israelites inscribed upon their doorposts and lintels, and wore upon their person, never to forget what wisdom had been imparted unto them. And now we, where shall we wear this essential Command, which silences even the hardest skeptics…? It should be inscribed upon our hearts. It should pour forth as praise from the mouth of all, all the faithful exclaiming with David in song, "I love you, O Lord, my strength." "The Lord lives! And blessed be my rock!" Our hearts indeed should overflow with love of God, who is so near us. Oh brothers and sisters, do you not know how near He is to you now? Do you not know that Jesus "is always able to save those who approach God through Him, since He lives forever to make intercession for [us]"? Do you not know that you have a high priest who is "holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens," and that He draws you unto the Heaven where He dwells? No longer do we turn to weak men, as even Moses was, but to "a Son, who has been made perfect forever." And His Sonship we share even this day when we love as He has loved. Love God, brothers and sisters. Love Him with heart and soul, mind and body. Let the four corners of the universe declare His praise and honor His Name in unending love of all. It is Jesus' blood, Jesus' love, which courses through our veins now. How much closer can we come than this Bread of Life? Heaven has come to earth in flesh of love, and raises these earthen vessels we are unto the gates of the kingdom. On the doorstep you stand; only enter in. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Love, The Meaning Of (Liars Don't Love, Lovers Don't Lie)" from Loving Spirit, third album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, if we love you and our neighbor, indeed we draw close to your kingdom. YHWH, if we but keep your Word, we shall be blessed; if we but love you, O LORD our God, we shall know your love. If we worship you alone, we shall soon come to Heaven. O let your love fill us with praise of your NAME! And may that love overflow to all souls. We love you, O LORD; we praise your holy NAME. You are exalted above all gods and your reign endures forever. And that reign you would share with all who are obedient to your Word, to your call to love. And so your Son has come among us as our high priest; as priest and victim He stands in our midst and calls us to your kingdom through His holy sacrifice. Once for all He offered Himself that we might be saved, that He might live to make intercession for us all our days – that we might learn to love as He loves, as you love, dear God, giving all our lives for your sake and that of our neighbor. Alleluia!

(Eph.6:1-9; Ps.145:10-14; Lk.13:22-30) "Do God's will with your whole heart as slaves of Christ." These words Paul addresses to the slaves of his time, instructing them to "obey [their] human masters with the reverence, the awe, and the sincerity [they] owe to Christ," but they apply well to us all, who are in all things to serve the Lord. Always we should "give [our] service willingly, doing it for the Lord rather than men." This is as "the narrow door" of which our Lord speaks; this is what will bring us into His heavenly kingdom. For it is certain that "each one, whether slave or free, will be repaid by the Lord for whatever good he does." Brothers and sisters, the Lord's "kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and [His] dominion endures through all generations." It matters not when we live or where, or what position we have in society – none of these things pertain to the reign of God. For those who are to be saved shall indeed come from the four corners of the universe and from every period of time, and as Paul says to masters of their slaves: "You and they have a Master in heaven who plays no favorites." So if you think that any honor or preference of this earth will smooth your way into the kingdom, you are surely mistaken and risk the grave disappointment of discovering that "some are first who will be last," or finding yourself barred from His House for failing to serve the Lord with all your heart in all the things of the world. For He has come to serve and not to be served, and He "lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down." Jesus goes "through cities and towns teaching – all the while making His way toward Jerusalem." Even unto the cross He offers instruction to those who would follow Him. He is as the fathers Paul instructs to "bring [their children] up with the training and instruction befitting the Lord." But we must heed His words; we must honor and obey the Lord as children are expected to honor and obey their parents. For His words are wise and they carry the greatest promise: "That it may go well with you, and that you may have long life," not so much upon this earth, but in the heavenly kingdom. Do all things in His name, brothers and sisters. Honor Him. Obey Him. Serve Him well that He might see you and "know where you come from" and thus honor you "at the feast in the kingdom of God." ******* O LORD, let us follow in your narrow way that we might be saved; let us honor you with all our lives. YHWH, all are one in your kingdom, for you do not play favorites with your children but call all the same to your presence. And so the lowly you raise from the dust and the exalted you tear down… for all must come to you on an even path. The narrow way that leads to your glory is not dependent on the concerns of this age. And so slaves are no less your children than their masters; masters no less than their slaves – it matters only their devotion to you. All are called to serve you, LORD, to follow the command you give to each one. And so father and son may come equally unto Heaven if they do as fits their role, as fits your call. Let children obey their parents and parents nurture their children in the faith. Let workers perform their tasks with zeal and those over them treat all with respect and love. Let all discourse of your glory by their service to you, giving you thanks for the splendor of your kingdom, to which they thereby come. Praise you, LORD, for your goodness toward all!

(Jer.31:7-9; Ps.126:1-6; Heb.5:1-6; Mk.10:46-52) "They departed in tears, but I will console them and guide them." Through Jeremiah the Lord prophesies that His people Israel "shall return as an immense throng," that He will "gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and the lame in their midst." And in our gospel we see Jesus "leaving Jericho with His disciples and a sizable crowd," picking up the blind Bartimaeus along the way. How the Lord fulfills the ancient prophecies. And now Jesus stands as our high priest in heaven, "offer[ing] gifts and sacrifices for sins," bringing all by His cross to the kingdom of God. "Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing." Brothers and sisters, we are all like the blind Bartimaeus, sitting "by the roadside begging," calling out to the Lord for forgiveness and guidance, saying to Him as He calls us before Himself, "Master, I want to see." How blind we all are, how deaf and how lame. How we need our vision renewed by the Lord of all, that indeed we might see as He sees, with a purity beyond the scope of our race, to penetrate the mysteries which shroud us like the blind man's cloak in this life. We must throw off the darkness, cast aside the shroud of death that weighs upon our shoulders by our sins and take upon ourselves the cross of Christ and walk with Him "on the way," on the road to the New Jerusalem. How shall we know the "brooks of water" which satiate our thirst, "the torrents in the southern desert" that cleanse our arid souls and bring them to life once more, except by the tears we cry, except with hearts reaching out and voices reaching up to Him who is so far above our ways? In His way alone we will find the "level road" on which "none shall stumble." Only by this cry will we know the graces our high priest offers all our lives. "Although [we] go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, [we] shall come back rejoicing, carrying [our] sheaves." For the Lord shall not forget us; He will not pass us by and leave us in our tears alone. But through our tears we shall see His holy light descend like a dove of peace upon our souls. Yes, we shall see; our eyes will be opened and our path will be set. And He shall guide us every step of our way. And "our mouth [will be] filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing" on that holy Day. Praise our merciful God! Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "No Paranoia" from Cleansing Human Frailty, fourth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, let us follow Jesus on the way to the Cross that we might follow Him to Heaven. YHWH, in Jesus your Son we are returned to sonship with you; we who had been exiled because of our sins are brought back to your presence, and as a Father you embrace us and open our eyes to see your glory. Restore our fortunes, O LORD. In tears we come before you, to your Son we cry out for mercy, and He cannot but hear and answer our call, He cannot but call us before Himself and grant the desire of our heart. O let us have the faith needed to believe in Him and so find the blessing only He holds. Jesus, you are our high priest, you are Son of David and Son of God. Let us run to you for healing of our blindness and lameness that we might see you and follow you along the way to the New Jerusalem. In the peace of the Father let us rest, in the joy of our salvation. With all your saints let us enter your gates, O Father in Heaven, by the grace that comes to us in your only Son.

(Is.53:10-11; Ps.33:4-5,18-20,22; Heb.4:14-16; Mk.10:35-45) "We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God." And this is He who is both priest and victim, for "He gives His life as an offering for sin" – He Himself is our sacrifice. Here is one who is able "to sympathize with our weaknesses… one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin." Here is He who has suffered the affliction of our fallen state but to raise us up with Himself from the mire, from the lowly condition we have come to know as our own. Here is He who "give[s] His life as a ransom for many." But why? Why is the Lord "pleased to crush Him in His infirmity"? Why is our high priest so humbled in the sight of all? Why is there such suffering in the world…? Why need you ask? Why need you question the will of God? Do you not believe that "upright is the word of the Lord, and all His works are trustworthy"? Do you not realize that the Lord looks with kindness upon all "those who fear Him… to deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine"? Do you trust your own eyes more than the vision of God? But if you must know, the Lord God tells you, "Through His suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt He shall bear." If you must inquire, hear that it is for your sin there is suffering in the world and the Lord and His followers must carry the cross. You need look no further than the blood on your hands… But seeing this, do not fear – rejoice. Rejoice, for now we may "confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help." Now the Savior does "lord it over" us by His sacrifice. Now this "slave of all" has "authority over [us]" by the suffering He has undergone. And now we must join Him on this cross. "The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized" – His words to James and John are spoken to us all. Glorious is the sacrifice to which we are called. For He who is both priest and victim would now lift us with Himself through the veil of pain to the holy heavens, that knowing the fruit of "His affliction," with Him all might "see the light in fullness of days." "Our soul waits for the Lord"; it suffers with Him. And it is not disappointed by the sacrifice it shares. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "The Sunset Bleeds Me Clean" (2nd half) from Bearing the Birth Pangs, tenth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, He who is slave of all, He who has shed His blood to save our souls – with Him let us be one. YHWH, your Son has given His life as a ransom for sin, that we might approach the throne of grace and find mercy, and find the blessing of your kindness upon our souls. He has borne our guilt, and so from it we are freed. But we must bear the Cross with Him if we are to find our way to Heaven. This is the greatest grace, is it not, O LORD – that we are called to share in the suffering of your Son, to drink of His cup and be baptized with His baptism? We are called to serve as He has served, to give our lives with Him, and so to come to the place He has come, to your right hand in the kingdom. O if we could only be as slaves of all! By His death He has ransomed many. Sharing in our weakness, suffering for our sakes – bearing His affliction, He shall see the light in fullness of days. And we poor souls who trust in Him find our hope fulfilled, dear LORD, in that same light of your face.

(Wis.7:7-11; Ps.90:12-17; Heb.4:12-13; Mk.10:17-30) "The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword." "Penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart… everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must render an account." Here is His Spirit of Wisdom, whose "splendor… never yields to sleep," who has "countless riches at her hands." It is this penetrating Wisdom we must pray to be with us, if we are to save our immortal souls. Without her nothing has any worth at all. How shall we "number our days aright" and "gain wisdom of heart"? How shall we walk the road the Lord leads us upon and find His "gracious care" to "prosper the work of our hands"? How shall we avoid the emptiness the riches of this world inevitably bring and acquire the conviction needed to follow the Lord? The allure of gold, of mammon, is so great, is so easy to set our hearts upon – how shall we hear what the Lord says in love to the man who falls on his knees before Him: "Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven"? How shall we give up house and family and lands all "for [His] sake and for the sake of the Gospel" to find "a hundred times more" these things, "with persecutions, and eternal life in heaven"? Only by the Wisdom that comes from God, never by the thoughts of our own heart. Clearly the disciples do not yet understand this or they would not ask with such amazement, "Then who can be saved?" when told of the difficulties riches bring. For still, though not for long, their hearts are set on the things of this earth, and still they judge with a worldly eye. The vision that comes of the pure light of Wisdom will not be theirs until the flame of the Holy Spirit burns in their souls. Then their own spirits will be one with the Lord and they will be able to discern that "all gold, in view of her, is a little sand." Then the length and breadth and depth of their mission they will comprehend. Let the word of God be heard by all, spoken by all His prophets and priests. Let it pierce many hearts, that some may be saved by the grace that enters where it bleeds. Here is the only way to life. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "In Your Eyes" from Loving Spirit, third album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, do we desire life with you, or the riches of this world? YHWH, your Son stands in our midst looking at us with love. To Himself He calls us that we might enter the kingdom. And who would not follow? What riches of this age are greater than the divine riches He offers? What else could we need if we have eternal life? With Him is true wisdom; let us give up all to follow in His way. O LORD, all gold is as a little dust to the one who has been blessed to see with your eyes, to the one who has been graced with your Wisdom. Though it be painful to stand in your light and be pierced by your sword, what glory it brings to your children! Your truth upon our souls, we have all the food we need. And so, what can persecutions bring us but greater joy? What can we lose in your Name that we will not regain a hundred times over? All things are in your hands, O LORD, and we live in your eyes. Pierce us with your Wisdom, that we might number our days aright.