The BreadCast

O protector of your sheep, you laid down your life for them, giving your blood for the service of souls that all might witness the surpassing love of the Lord and the glory that awaits those who die in Him – pray for shepherds who feed their sheep, not lording it over them or seeking what gain they might find for themselves, taking the milk and wool of their flock and leaving them naked and lifeless… but living the call of Christ as you, dear shepherd, have done. Pray those who govern God's Church will be ready even to die for Him and the people they serve. Let all be protected by the blood of the Lamb.

(1Cor.15:35-37,42-49; Ps.56:10-14; Lk.8:4-15) "Just as we resemble the man from earth, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven." It is not difficult to recognize our earthly bodies. They are with us always, and make themselves known in the "weakness" that befalls us. Adam's sin is upon us his children and reminds us always that we are human, of the earth. But as we know this body of the earth so "subject to decay," so "ignoble" in itself, so we should know the "spiritual body [that] comes up" as this "natural body is put down" by us. Here is the meaning of Jesus' teaching that we must lay down our lives, that we must die to this world to be raised up in His presence. For the earthly form we know so well by the weakness and sin inherent in its confines we must set aside, not nourish in its passions, that ever the Spirit might take shape in our lives… that we might take on the likeness of Christ. And so even our corrupted nature may bring growth and fruit of great significance when we sow it in the ground, when we place it back whence it has come. In this death is life. "A farmer went out to sow some seed." This farmer is, of course, Jesus, the spiritual Man who casts seed of the Spirit for all waiting hearts to receive and nourish to growth as a "full-blown plant" in the Father's light. If we heed the Word He proclaims to us with exclamation, if we become ourselves as "the seed sown on good ground," given rebirth in the Gospel of Christ, resurrection of our weakened form we will know; even now it shall begin to mature within us. But if we are empty as "those on the footpath" or rootless as "those on rocky ground" or stifled as "the seed fallen among briars," how then shall we escape the natural body and its corruption and reach up to the kingdom of heaven? It cannot but be that we shall die – and in this death there will be no resurrection to life. O brothers and sisters, let us be as David, who declares in faith, "Now I know that God is with me" and asks with such confidence, "What can flesh do against me?" How indeed can the flesh hold us down, pressed to the earth though it may be, if we have God's Word in us growing so surely? In God let us "trust without fear," and on the day of full growth, when this "earth formed from dust" has died completely and the Man of Spirit has His kingdom revealed, we shall rejoice with David and sing: "You have rescued me from death… that I may walk before God in the land of the living." Then the Spirit so real we shall know. ******* O LORD, let your Word take root in our hearts and grow unto your heavenly kingdom. YHWH, let your Word be firmly planted in our hearts; let us bear fruit unto Heaven. Let us be raised with your only Son and walk in the light of your presence. Let us be men of the Spirit. Your Son comes casting seed upon this earth, dearest LORD. He seeks to plant your Spirit within our souls. O let us have ears to hear His Word! Let us have hearts open to His call. Why should we wish to die in sin? Why would we be subject to decay as our natural bodies? Should we not rather put on the body of Jesus and be thus spiritual men? O may we bear the likeness of the Man from Heaven! Let us have no fear, LORD, as we grow with Jesus; let the flesh hold no sway against our coming to you. Help us to lay down our bodies that our spirits may rise and we may make our home in your eternal light. Open our eyes in your presence.

(1Cor.15:12-20; Ps.17:1,6-8,15; Lk.8:1-3) "Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep." This is the heart of our faith. This is the "Good News," the Gospel preached in our midst. This is our firm belief. Upon it all our hopes stand. Christ has been raised, and His disciples will follow Him. As surely as we accompany Him here in His mission on earth, so surely will we find ourselves in His presence in heaven. Dying in Him means rising in light. But "if our hopes in Christ are limited to this life only, we are the most pitiable of men." We could then be said to have truly wasted our time, for then the very heart of our faith would have been torn out, and what but scoffing would we have to hold? A dead Christ we would carry in our arms, and we "the deadest of the dead" with Him. Paul speaks of this quite pointedly; he pulls no punches in this regard, declaring openly: "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is void of content and your faith is empty too." Yet there are those today, as then, who "say there is no resurrection of the dead," that "Christ was not raised" – and these would call themselves Christian. And in the same manner there are many who do not truly believe the resurrection, yet wear the Christian nametag. If we have doubt in our hearts, or, worse yet, if we preach against the core of the faith, what do we do but kill ourselves? What do we do but work against the very Gospel of Christ? And how then do we merit the name of Christian? Brothers and sisters, we must know in our hearts and be assured that Jesus is risen from the dead. We must realize that God has "attend[ed] to [David's] outcry," that He has "hearken[ed] to [his] prayer" – that the most urgent longing of our souls has been answered by the "savior of those who hope in [Him]." With David, we of faith should say with his resolve: "On waking, I shall be content in your presence." Has the resurrection not been indicated in the "women who ha[ve] been cured of evil spirits and maladies" and who now accompany Jesus? Does not Mary Magdalene, "from whom seven devils had gone out," give clear example of hope in Christ fulfilled? For she is not at all as she was, and this woman once so completely possessed by death itself is the first to see the Lord risen. We must know the resurrection in our lives on earth; this is the only way we will comprehend it in heaven. Release from sin allows us to see already the eternal fruits of the kingdom. Accompanying Him now, our sins behind us, already upon heaven's road we tread. And we know of a certain we shall pass through these "towns and villages" even unto His kingdom. ******* O LORD, your Son has been raised from the dead; may we be raised with Him and be at your side. YHWH, your Son is raised from the dead for us that we might enter your glorious presence. Though in the shadow of the wings of the Cross on this earth we make our home, it but prepares us for the kingdom. For even here our sins are taken away, and we come to new life in the Spirit. We cried out to you, O LORD, and you heard our voice and sent your Son to walk among us. And if we follow in His steps we shall come to where He leads – we shall come to you. The path He trod must be our own, for it is the way of salvation. Through death on the Cross we come to life, for as we die with Him so we are raised. Let us rejoice in His resurrection, O LORD; let us have faith in the new life at work in us even this day, and look with hope to our place in your kingdom. On waking may we look upon your face and be content in your eternal presence. For your glory let us ever strive, giving all to you as we walk in your way.

O wise doctor whose intellect served well in defense of the Church and her teachings, who bore well the light yoke of Christ that leads to eternal life and shepherded your flock in following you along this path of our Lord – speak to us this day your words of grace that the souls of all within the Church's gates might be founded well on the truths of the faith and on the love of God. Pray we shall be wise as you in knowing the way the Lord marks out for His sons; pray we shall have shepherds so blessed with His light that all shall be saved from the wolves about and remain secure in the Father's arms.

(1Cor.15:1-11; Ps.118:1-2,16-17,28; Lk.7:36-50) "I am the least of the apostles." Brothers and sisters, "little is forgiven the one whose love is small." And it is in the sweet tears of repentance that we discover the love held in the merciful heart of the Lord. Paul speaks the truth of himself when he claims that he does "not even deserve the name" of apostle because he has "persecuted the Church of God." "But through the favor of God" he has "worked harder than all the others," preaching the Gospel of the Lord. As small as he is and as undeserving as he is, so great is the Lord's blessing upon him. In the measure he recognizes his sin, the Lord pours His grace into him, and through him to others. And what grace pours forth through the woman in our gospel today! In her we see our own encounter with the Lord. Here is she who is "known in town to be a sinner" standing and kneeling in tears before her God. And the Lord knows well "who and what sort of woman this is that touches Him – that she is a sinner," and He knows well, too, her repentant heart. While the others at table see neither their own sin nor the woman's repentance, He allows Himself to be touched by both (her sin and her repentance) – it is for just such a moment as this He has come. And how well the Lord speaks the truth in His detailed description of the woman's repentance; how well we see His love reflected in her… and how blest is she to hear these words for which every heart does long: "Your sins are forgiven." And how her tears increase at this word come forth from the mouth of the Holy One. And so, while the others argue blindly among themselves, He reaches out His hand, touches her face, and whispers to her soul: "Your faith has been your salvation. Now go in peace." "O my God, I extol you… You have been my savior." Indeed, your "mercy endures forever," and now I know that "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord." This is the song the woman must sing; this is the song of St. Paul. This is the song of every soul redeemed by the love of the Lord. So let us all "stand firm" in the Gospel preached to us by those who have seen Him, from Peter to this wretched Paul; we "are being saved by it at this very moment if we retain it" in its purity. And here is the Word simply put: "That Christ died for our sins in accord with the Scriptures; that He was buried and, in accord with the Scriptures, rose on the third day." What grace is ours, we the least, we poor sinners – we who know the greatness of His love. ******* O LORD, let us have faith in your Son and in His sacrifice for our sins; on our knees in love let us come to Him, and we shall find His mercy. YHWH, how can we see you if tears of repentance do not fill our eyes? How will your mercy be known to us if we do not come on our knees before your Son? If we love but little we shall be forgiven little, and our sins will continue to blind our eyes. Have mercy on us, O LORD, we are all burdened with debt we cannot repay. But you hear our prayers, you have pity on our poor, sinful souls, and you reach out your hand to touch our hearts, to relieve the burden we carry by the sacrifice of your Son. Thank you, LORD. We praise you for your love. Let us welcome you into our homes; let us receive Jesus into our very hearts. In our spirits take up your residence, LORD, by our faith in Him and in His death and resurrection. For us He died and was buried; for us He rose on the third day. Let us never forget His enduring mercy – in great humility let us embrace your love.

O brothers in Christ, in death and in life you gave yourselves as one for the sake of the flock; for the cause of the faith readily you shed your blood to serve the growth of God's Church – pray we today will be zealous as you in defending the faith with our lives; by fasting and by prayer, by standing courageously before the courts of the world and offering our flesh in sacrifice, may we imitate you who imitated Christ and so come with all our brothers to His resurrection and life. Shepherd us well even this day from where you now stand at the Lord's side, that we might be unafraid to speak and to live the truth in undying love. O let us lay down our lives with you!

O sorrowful Mother whose heart was pierced by a sword, who stood at the foot of the Cross dying in spirit as your Son died in the flesh… Jesus was sent to suffer and die for our sins, and how intimately you shared in the profound pain He carried about all His life; how preeminently you filled up what was lacking in His suffering, suffering the whole Church must share with our crucified Lord – pray we shall indeed enter into the sacrifice of Christ your Son, following in your wake, O Mother of God; pray we shall meet Him along His Way of Sorrow that His blood upon our souls will carry us to Heaven, where you stand at His side.

(1Cor.12:12-14,27-31; Ps.100:1-5; Lk.7:11-17) "A great prophet has risen among us." A great prophet, yes, and so much more; for here is He who is Himself the "one body" upon whom the "one Spirit" rests, and in whom all find their home. "The body is one and has many members; but all the members, many though they are, are one body; and so it is with Christ." Christ is all things: He is apostle sent by the Father, prophet speaking for God, teacher instructing all on the narrow path that leads to heaven, miracle worker raising the dead, healer of body and soul causing the deaf to hear and the blind to see, assistant washing the feet of His disciples, administrator apportioning the gifts and graces which are His own, and speaker in tongues upon whom the flame of the Spirit eternally rests and whose Word goes forth to all nations. We are not all apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers, healers, and speakers in tongues – but He is. He is all these things for He is whole; He is the only Son of God, and we are "His people, the sheep of His flock" who share in His power according to our baptism in His Name. And so should we not "sing joyfully to the Lord" for the Savior who has been raised from among us? Should not all "lands," all members of His blessed body "serve the Lord with gladness," that all might tend to the glory of God? In our gospel "a considerable crowd of townsfolk were with" the widow, and "a large crowd accompanied" Jesus. These met at "the gate of the town" called Nain. When the Lord raised the son of the widow from the dead, "fear seized them all and they began to praise God." Is not this scene of celebration like that which should encompass the body of Christ? Should not such joy in recognition of the greatness of God course through all our veins, strengthening all our muscles? For we know more than they. We know this Man is more than a prophet – we know it is the Messiah who is among us. And so, let us "enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise" as we "set [our] hearts on the greater gifts" at work within us now as members of the body of the only Son. Alleluia! He raises us all from the dead to speak in the power of the Spirit. ******* O LORD, let us be raised from the dead to live in you, ever praising your NAME. YHWH, in your Son we approach the gates of Heaven; as His Body we become your own. Sheep of your flock let us ever be – let us enter the New Jerusalem. O LORD, raise us from our litter, from the bed of death to which sin has brought us. The hand of your Son touch us this day, His voice let us hear speaking to our ears, that we might be filled with your Spirit and rise from our graves to praise you, to give witness to your glory dwelling in our land. Alive in you let us ever be, O LORD. The blood of your Son let course through our veins. In His Body let us make our home, as His very members. Then we shall remember you; then we shall enter your courts with praise and ever give thanks to your holy NAME. Let us do your will, O LORD, your work on this earth. As Jesus your Son, let us live out our days, bringing His Word and His teaching to everyone.

(1Cor.11:17-26,33; Ps.40:7-10,17,1Cor.11:26; Lk.7:1-10) "Just give the order and my servant will be cured." By a word from His mouth what cannot be done? For those who have faith this is all that is needed. Listen, brothers and sisters, to the centurion's explication of "the meaning of an order": "I say to one, 'On your way,' and off he goes; to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." Do you see faith at work? Do you understand the power of a word? And if a mere centurion in the Roman army possesses such power and gains such loyalty by his commands, do you think the Lord's words shall fall short or His servants be found lacking in obedience? "I am not worthy to have you enter my house" are the words the centurion speaks to Jesus before our quote for the day, and they are of course the phrase we utter just before we receive the Lord in Holy Communion. That same sacrament of Communion is described for us by Paul in his letter to the Corinthians; he tells us of the Christ's words and actions upon its institution "on the night in which He was betrayed." "This is my body," Jesus says; and, in Paul's phrasing, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood." And so do we partake of the Lord's Body and Blood even as we remember His sacrifice for our sins; and so, like the centurion's servant, we are healed of our ills. Yet there are "divisions among [us]" regarding this central sacrament of our faith. Perhaps "there may even have to be factions among [us] for the tried and true to stand out clearly." But the Lord is never pleased with a lack of faith. And if He decries the lack of "faith among the Israelites," what is His thought on Christians who cannot believe in His presence in the Sacrament? Does the Lord not also have "soldiers under His command" like the centurion? Do they not also carry out His orders? Or is the word He gives them not powerful enough to carry out His will? Is it somehow impossible for the Lord to make himself present as He has promised by the intercession of His apostles, His priests – even as by the intercession of the Jewish elders the centurion gained his request from the Christ? Does your faith not fall short if you thus limit the power of God, of His Word, of the power given His apostles? "I received from the Lord what I handed on to you," Paul states succinctly as he speaks to his disciples of the Lord's Supper. And this meal shall last till the end of time; and it shall ever feed us body and soul with the presence of Christ. "Behold, I come," says the Lord. To do the Father's will is the Son's "delight" and the delight of all who follow Him. In body He comes and in body He remains, upon our altars and in His sons. This "justice" we "announce in the vast assembly"; we do "not restrain [our] lips." For His faithfulness to us, we His slaves and soldiers well know; and for such love we can but proclaim: "The Lord be glorified"! For by a word from His mouth uttered through His priest – "This is my body" – He is in our midst. ******* O LORD, in faith let us come to you to receive the Body and Blood of your Son, and so find the new life He brings. YHWH, your Son comes to us and gives us His own Body and Blood that we might partake of Him and so find our salvation in union with you. But have we the faith to see Him here in our midst; and have we the love to receive Him into our hearts? The flesh can be such a distraction for us, O LORD; it can leave us quite blind. As we seek to feed our bellies, our souls can be greatly deprived. And so, do we not lose you by our lack of faith? In your Word let us trust, dear LORD, not in the matter at our hands. Our hearts be set upon your grace, upon the sacrifice of your Son, that we might come to dwell in your House. O let us offer our bodies in union with His and we shall become sons as He, doing your will alone and so knowing your blessing. Let us lay down our lives in faith, O LORD, declaring your glory to all with ears. Let our very lives be made in your image, in the image of your only Son. Let us become as He is as we eat His Body and drink His Blood.

O you of golden tongue, how well you proved the Word of God cannot be chained; how well you revealed its radiance to our ears and hearts… unconquered by threats of death and the sufferings the world imposes, you proclaimed the glory of God and His presence with us until the very end – pray, O dear shepherd, who held your flock so close to your heart that they became one body with you in Christ, that we all shall be so willing to lay down our lives, speaking and walking in the Word the Lord gives us to share with all our brothers in light. Pray indeed God's will be done in all His holy children.