The BreadCast

(1Kgs.21:1-16;   Ps.5:2-3,5-7;   Mt.5:38-42)  “I will obtain the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.” How divergent are the paths of Jezebel and Jesus.  This Queen of Israel, wife of Ahab, holds the philosophy that if someone won’t give you what you ask for, take it by force; whereas the Lord says if someone wishes to take something from you, give it and more. Here are the way of the world and the way of heaven in stark contrast.  When as a petulant child Ahab refuses to eat after not getting what he wants, his wife plots the death of Naboth to obtain the king’s desired land.  She truly is among “the bloodthirsty and the deceitful the Lord abhors.”  Jesus and those who follow Him are they whom the Lord loves.  Far from stoning the righteous man to death, they themselves are the righteous who shed blood freely at the hands of their enemies.  Both the wicked Jezebel and the just Jesus go beyond the old law: “An eye for an eye, a tooth for tooth.”  She takes an eye and a tooth when none has been taken from her, going thus below the law; but Jesus says, “Offer no resistance to injury,” going thus above the law.  Where He fulfills the law in love, she makes a mockery of God. We hear these mutually exclusive paths spoken of even literally today.  Jesus instructs His disciples: “Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him two miles,” encouraging His followers on the same way of suffering He models for all – a way revealed most clearly in His carrying of the cross to the hill of Golgotha; and our first reading tells us that “on hearing that Naboth was dead, Ahab started off on his way down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it,” walking quite a different path of blood. Brothers and sisters, it should be obvious that God “delight[s] not in wickedness; no evil man remains with [Him].”  He indeed “destroy[s] all who speak falsehood” – the justice of God they shall not escape.  But let it be equally obvious that we must follow the Lord’s words in turning the other cheek.  His are not mere platitudes but necessary instructions for finding the way to God He Himself walks.  If we do not walk where He has walked, how can we come to the place He now is?  Do not think you will come to heaven along an easy path, much less a wicked one.  You will obtain the vineyard of heaven only by drinking the blood of Christ where you are, only by laying down your very life here in this world. ******* O LORD, let us leave behind all the wickedness of this world and join in your Son’s holy sacrifice of love. YHWH, let us leave the way of the wicked far behind and walk only in the path you mark out for us.  In your Son’s blood let us make our home, that there shall be no blood upon our hands. Let us lay down our lives with your Son, turning the other cheek to those who would harm us, to those who would slap us in the face.  Yours is the way of forgiveness and love, of sacrifice in the name of goodness, in your NAME, O God. Keep us from the path of the world, LORD, for it is one of evil, of use and abuse of neighbor, of the shedding of his blood, the blood of the righteous Man.  O let us not have Jesus’ blood on our hands! LORD, we are all sinners, but if we turn to you, you save us from such sin as would condemn our souls.  But if we harden our hearts against your love, if we seek only our own gain, and at others’ expense, choosing to remain blind to your Son’s Cross of sacrifice, which is our only hope of salvation… we can only be destroyed.  Help us to give all to others, to answer your call to love.

(1Kgs.19:19-21;   Ps.16:1-2,5,7-10;   Mt.5:33-37)  “I will follow you.” Elisha gives His yes to Elijah, and so to God.  He “kiss[es] [his] father and mother good-bye” and weds himself to the prophet who has thrown “his cloak over him.”  And he shall not turn back, shall not fall short of giving his entire self to the service of God, and so shall be greatly blessed.  All he leaves behind.  His very livelihood he slaughters, and gives these twelve oxen “to his people to eat.”  For he shall not return to work for them anymore. “You are my inheritance, O Lord,” David sings; “my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot.”  All his soul trusts in the Lord in whom he “take[s] refuge,” and what more does the Lord’s king need?  “My heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence”: all his being finds peace in the presence of God, for all his being is set upon Him. So it is, brothers and sisters, that to the extent we give ourselves to God, to the degree that we give our yes to the Lord, even so will we find our place secure.  For making our home in heaven with Him, there is nothing to keep us from His grace.  All else falls short of His glory.  Heaven and earth shall pass away, and the hairs on our heads are numbered: only the New Jerusalem is lasting; only heaven is secure, for only in heaven is God. We must be with Him.  We must give ourselves to Him.  Why should anything less hold sway in our lives?  Why should we hesitate to follow Him with our whole heart?  For there is nothing else that has importance – heaven is all that matters, and giving our lives to this place which is all life, how protected we are from “the evil one” who would dilute our love of God.  And how certain our yes to our God is a no to this adversarial devil. Honor your mother and father, children; give to all the love that is due.  But give to God your very soul; let your spirit rest in Him alone, and you will be blessed forevermore. ******* O LORD, let us follow you unreservedly and know your presence at our side. YHWH, let us give you our ‘yes’ even as your Blessed Mother, even as Elisha, even as all your faithful disciples.  Let us give all things over to you and follow your way unreservedly.  In your truth let us ever remain, not wavering or turning back to what we have left behind.  In you let us make our home and we will dwell in Heaven. What do we need but you at our side?  For what should we be concerned but serving your will?  For as we take refuge in you, as we set our hearts on your work and your will, nothing can disturb us – in complete confidence our soul abides.  For you are all, O LORD; you are all and everything, and nothing exists apart from you.  And so, if we have you, everything is ours.  Let us but give our trust to you. And we shall never die if we trust our lives into your hands.  You shall be our food and drink, and we shall sit at your table forever…  O LORD, we give you our ‘yes’ this day.

(1Kgs.18:41-46;   Ps.65:2,10-13;   Mt.5:20-26)  “You have visited the land and watered it; greatly have you enriched it.”  “There is the sound of a heavy rain.”  The Lord is speaking.  The Lord is teaching.  Jesus is revealing the strait path of holiness that leads to the Father, and His words and His Person come like a fruitful rain upon a drought-stricken land. O Lord, “thus have you prepared the land: drenching its furrows, breaking up its clods, softening it with showers, blessing its yield.”  By your speaking, by your teaching… by your bleeding on the cross for us “you have crowned the year with your bounty, and your paths overflow with a rich harvest.”  But will we receive these rains?  Will we accept His chastisements which lead to life, which are the only way to the kingdom of God? Here are the Lord’s words, the commands of His mouth: “Everyone who grows angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; any man who uses abusive language toward his brother shall be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and if he holds him in contempt he risks the fires of Gehenna.”  To what extent has He increased the prescriptions of the law!  For He calls us to a holiness that surpasses the holiness of the law.  He calls us to the kingdom of God, and great rains are needed to foster its life.  And so He demands that we “be reconciled with [our] brother”; and so He warns us to “settle with [our] opponent.”  For we are on our way to His holy court, and not even the smallest sin will stand there. The eyes of Elijah see but “a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.”  It is but the shadows the prophets knew as “the sky grew dark with clouds and wind.”  But it was enough to recognize the coming presence of the Lord that would relieve the drought upon the land, upon the nation of Israel.  We, brothers and sisters, are those upon whom “a heavy rain fell,” for now Christ has come; now He calls to us in Person from the cross and from His throne in heaven.  If you wish to come to where He is, you must go where He has been: the cross is the heavy rain which brings the sweet smelling flower of heaven. “God’s watercourses are filled” and “rejoicing clothes the hills.”  Listen to His words now.  Be obedient to His command.  It is the driving rain which breaks up the ground and prepares the soul for holiness. ******* O LORD, send your rain upon us to soften our hearts; let us be perfect as you by your chastising Word of love. YHWH, release us from judgment, we pray.  Send upon us your driving rain, to cleanse our souls of all harsh words and anger.  How shall we stand before your throne if here we cannot forgive, for how shall we ourselves be forgiven our grave sins if our hearts are hardened?  O send your rain, LORD!  Send your rain, and let our hearts be open to receive it well. Your Word is as a chastising rain to our souls, O LORD; it is the strong words from your  mouth that serve to cleanse us from our sin and soften the ground of our hearts to receive your grace and blessings.  If we have not your mercy within us, we are dead, for then there is no remedy for our sin.  Speak to us; instruct us in your ways, and let us be obedient to your command, to your chastisement that brings new life from this poor land. O LORD, subject us not to the trial; lead us not before your tribunal.  For we have nothing to pay our debt and so cannot stand before you.  Only your mercy will save us on that day.  Let us have your mercy within us now, and share it with others.

(1Kgs.18:20-39;   Ps.16:1-2,4-5,8,11;   Mt.5:17-19)  “If the Lord is God, follow Him; if Baal, follow him.” Today “the only surviving prophet of the Lord” comes to reveal to the people that “the Lord is God!”  Elijah seeks to open the Israelites’ eyes to the presence of God, to bring them “back to their senses.”  And how evident it becomes that “they multiply their sorrows who court other gods,” and that those “who set the Lord ever before” themselves are able to declare with David in faith: “With Him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.” The great futility, the absolute emptiness of following false gods is shown in clear focus in the four hundred and fifty “prophets” who “hopped around the altar” and “called on Baal from morning to noon, saying, ‘Answer us, Baal!’”  How well our first reading summarizes the response of gods who are no gods: “But there was no sound, and no one answering.”  After “Elijah taunted them: ‘Call louder, for he is a god and may be meditating, or may have retired, or may be on a journey.  Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened,’” they compounded their worship to utter absurdity as they “called out louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until blood gushed over them.” From this exercise of futile worship Elijah calls the people, saying simply, “Come here to me.”  And they move from this macabre circus scene over to the altar of the Lord the prophet prepares.  And here the power of the Lord is unveiled beyond doubt to open the wayward hearts of God’s chosen ones.  Water upon water is poured upon the evening sacrifice, but the Lord’s fire comes at the word of Elijah and consumes all. “Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel.”  Let it be understood that your law must be followed and not the wicked contrivances of the human heart.  Let be known the truth of your Son’s words: “Whoever breaks the least significant of these commands and teaches others to do so shall be called least in the kingdom of God.  Whoever fulfills and teaches these commands shall be great in the kingdom of God.”  For we shall only know the “fullness of joys in your presence” if we keep to your way, following Him who has come “to fulfill” “the law and the prophets.”  Let us never “court other gods” but with your humble king call out ever, “My Lord are you.” ******* O LORD, all your Law is holy for you alone are holy and lead us only into your presence – praise you, O LORD our God! YHWH, you alone are God indeed; you alone should we worship – your NAME alone should we call upon to answer all our needs.  And your Law we should keep with all our hearts if we hope to gain a hearing from you. We are so blind, O LORD, blind to your presence, blind to your power, blind to your love for us and the care you provide in your Word.  We seek to make our own way, to worship a god of our own making, and so we fall away from you who hold our very lives in your hands.  Send the fire of the Holy Spirit upon us to awaken us to your glory and your love here in our midst this day, that we might turn to true worship, worship of you who alone are worthy of our praise. O LORD, let your Word be fulfilled in us; let us keep your commands perfectly, following in the way of your only Son, who is the fulfillment of your Word.  Yes, you alone are God and He alone is the way to you – let us live in your truth.

(1Kgs.17:7-16;   Ps.4:2-5,7-8;   Mt.5:13-16)  “The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the Lord sends rain upon the earth.” Again today we see in our readings that the Lord provides for His children’s needs, that indeed He is with us until the end of the age – yes, “the Lord does wonders for His faithful one.” As “the brook where Elijah was hiding ran dry,” the Lord instructed him to go to Zarephath of Sidon, a pagan territory, saying, “I have designated a widow there to provide for you.”  Elijah is obedient and the Lord is faithful to His word, for just “as he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there.”  (Indeed, how wonderful it is to see the word of the Lord fulfilled!)  Elijah does not hide the Lord’s prophecy from his benefactress, and she, too, believes the word the Lord has spoken.  And so she and her son and the prophet were “able to eat for a year” from a jar that was all but empty. Brothers and sisters, our psalmist David sings in joy to the Lord today, “O Lord, let the light of your countenance shine upon us!”  And how certain it is that He gives light to those who seek Him, those who have faith in Him.  For “when [we] call… [He] relieve[s] [us]… in distress… [and] put[s] gladness into [our] heart[s], more than when grain and wine abound.”  For the light of the Lord is greater than the bread we eat; it is His love alone which provides all and alone brings joy to our souls. And we are called to share in that light, to be “the light of the world.”  It is into us He places His light and then invites us to “set it on a stand where it gives light to all in the house”: “Your light must shine before men so that they may see goodness in your acts and give praise to your heavenly Father.”  As He is Light, we must be light; as He provides for the needs of all, we must provide for the needs of all.  And we must believe that, as “the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the Lord had foretold through Elijah,” just so the light He gives our lives shall not dim and the salt which draws it forth shall not lose its savor – we must believe that He indeed will provide for us, even to His second coming.  And it shall be so.  His love shall ever grow and this Bread be shared more and more with those He calls out of the world.  Though famine be upon the land, He feeds us with the finest wheat, and calls us to feed others. ******* O LORD, let your light shine upon us and through us – let us have faith in you and see your work accomplished in our lives. YHWH, let the light of your countenance shine upon us, and let that same light shine through us to illumine the world, to give light to all who see us.  You alone provide for us; you alone feed us; and you alone make our lives of worth – let it be you we bring to others. If our salt be not of you, O LORD, what good will it be and what good can it do?  Apart from you and the light of your love, we are useless, fit for the trash.  But if we keep our eyes fixed on you and your holy light, if we call to you in our distress and have faith in the care you take for the souls of those who love you, then we shall be made whole in your sight and ready to serve your will. What water can we find upon this earth, LORD, for it is dry and lifeless.  Our spirits sag and the darkness threatens to overcome us.  Let us not be of the darkness; let us not give in to its threats.  Let us remember you and in you place our trust, and there shall be food and water in abundance, and we will see your hand at work even in our own lives.  Praise you for your goodness!

(1Kgs.17:1-6;   Ps.121:1-8;   Mt.5:1-12) “My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” It is He whom we seek when we “lift up [our] eyes toward the mountains.”  And what do we find but that “the Lord is [our] guardian; the Lord is [our] shade; He is beside [us] at [our] right hand.” Does the Lord not watch over those who trust in Him?  Take Elijah for your example.  He is led into exile under the stars, separated far from his people, yet he finds “the sun shall not harm [him] by day, nor the moon by night.”  He finds, in fact, his needs are met in a most marvelous way, for “ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the stream.”  At the Lord’s command even these birds of the air serve to provide the needs of those who take refuge in Him.  And His refreshing waters are always at our side. Brothers and sisters, what do we see when we lift our eyes to the mountain?  Do we not see the Lord sitting, teaching us His way?  Are our hearts not nourished by His Word and our souls refreshed by His Bread?  He speaks to us only truth, assuring us that “blest are the poor in spirit: the reign of God is theirs.”  He tells us what we indeed find as we live our lives under His wings.  If our refuge were the world, how could sorrow and lowliness bring us blessing?  Would our hunger and thirst not then be for the riches of this world, and we find ourselves fatted thereby for the day of slaughter?  But being “single-hearted” and with a “hunger and thirst for holiness,” we find ourselves more than satisfied; we find that we “shall see God.”  What more need has the devout soul than to dwell in the light of the Lord? “The Lord will guard your coming and your going, both now and forever”; He shall not “suffer your foot to slip,” for “He neither slumbers nor sleeps” but is ever diligent in the protection He provides His holy ones.  And so what should you do but “be glad and rejoice, for your reward is great in heaven.”  As long as you remain with Him, He shall watch over you; and to His blessings there is no end, for all is held in His sacred hands and His desire is always to shower His mercy upon your soul. ******* O LORD, as we give ourselves over to your Word and His way of the Cross, you bless us and bring us into your kingdom. YHWH, you watch over all our ways; you guard and guide and bless our days.  Ever at our side you wait, to feed us with all we need.  How blessed indeed we are to have you as our God.  There is none who provides as you do. And so, let us continue on your way, LORD; lead us each day to the place we should be.  In your will all is accomplished well – let us be ever at your side. Though we mourn and though we weep, though we hunger and thirst for your love… though we suffer in this world for holiness’ sake, you answer all our desires, O LORD our God. And so, let us be as your prophets of old, trusting only in your hand, needing nothing but your presence with us and the promised reward of Heaven.  For nothing can harm us if you are there, and with you we already taste the kingdom.

(2Tm.4:1-8;   Ps.71:8-9,14-17,22;   Mk.12:38-44) “Put up with hardship, perform your work as an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” In final words to his blessed disciple, Paul exhorts Timothy with all the strength he is able to muster “to preach the word, to stay with this task whether convenient or inconvenient – correcting, reproving, appealing – constantly teaching and never losing patience.”  He even invokes “the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is coming to judge the living and the dead,” to emphasize the seriousness of his charge.  Clearly the end approaches for Paul.  He himself states: “The time of my dissolution is near” – and so it is with great urgency he desires his preaching task to go forth, for Timothy’s own sake, that he might share the “merited crown” that awaits his father in the faith, and for all who look “for [the Lord’s] appearing with eager longing.” Paul sees as he draws nigh to the Day of the Lord what has perhaps never been known so clearly as today, that “the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but, following their own desires, will surround themselves with teachers who tickle their ears.”  He prophecies so well what is true of every age but is magnified so greatly in the dark time in which we live: “They will stop listening to the truth and will wander off to fables.”  More have died in war in the last century than in all the rest of human history; and the martyrs’ blood has never mounted as high to heaven as in this atheistic age wherein all hearts turn away from true doctrine to enshrine the workings of their own hands and minds.  (May the smoke of Satan be blown from the confines of the Church and the devil’s veil of illusion be lifted from all minds!) But we must not be as the scribes “who like to parade around in their robes and accept marks of respect in public, front seats in the synagogues, and places of honor at banquets.”  The prideful adulation that sparks the unholy fire of the cults so prevalent in our glamorous time is not what must call to our hearts or be the leaven for our souls.  We must but praise the Lord!  With our psalmist we must sing to our Lord and our God, “the Holy One of Israel”: “My mouth shall be filled with your praise, with your glory day by day.”  We must “give [Him] thanks with music on the lyre,” with our body’s every fiber. Brothers and sisters, we must “always hope and praise [God] ever more and more.”  Ever we are called to draw closer to the Lord.  We have not yet been as the widow who “gave from her want, all that she had to live on”; we have not yet been “poured out like a libation” as has Paul; we have not yet shed blood with Jesus on the cross.  We cannot yet say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”; for there is much race yet to be run and to the end our faith must endure and grow ever stronger day to day.  Indeed our ministry must be fulfilled, all our strength spent in witness to the Word of Truth. ******* O LORD, send us true teachers of the faith, that we might be so faithful ourselves, pouring out our lives for your sake. YHWH, to you let us turn in faith; instruct us ever in your way.  Let your truth alone be taught by all who stand in your place.  Laying down their lives for your flock, may they find their blessing on your Day. And let us all lay down our lives with them; O LORD, let all men sing your praise.  For none is released from your call to preach, to live the faith all our days. Soon your Son shall return; let our eyes be up and looking for His coming.  Let us desire to unite with you and so give all we have toward that end.  We may not have much to give, LORD, but if we place all at your service, you will multiply our good works and make us worthy to stand with you. O LORD, keep us from those who lead souls astray by their words and by their actions.  To Jesus indeed let us look, and to His faithful disciples, to find the way we should walk.  If we are diligent in following you, if we are humble and speak the truth, you will bless us and all we do, and join our song to that of your saints.  May Jesus teach us this day.

(2Tm.3:10-17;   Ps.119:157,160-161,165-166,168;   Mk.12:35-37) “Princes persecute me without cause but my heart stands in awe of your word.” The Word of God and persecution are our topics for today.  On the one hand, Paul tells Timothy, “All Scripture is inspired of God and is useful for teaching,” and Jesus uses a passage of Scripture (Psalm 110) to refute His persecutors and verify that the Son of God, the Word of God made flesh, is indeed greater than David – being David’s Son insofar as the flesh is concerned, but truly begotten of God the Father and one with Him from all eternity.  And on the other hand, Paul states categorically, “Anyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus can expect to be persecuted,” and our psalmist sings, “My persecutors and my foes are many.”  But these two hands become one hand, working in the one Body of Christ, revealed in the passage Jesus quotes: “The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.”  For by the power of the Word of God in Scripture and made flesh in Christ we His children conquer with Him all our enemies… these persecutors become as so much empty wind. Brothers and sisters, never lose awe for the Word of God spoken in Holy Scripture.  Be like Timothy who “from [his] infancy” knew “the sacred Scriptures, the source of the wisdom which through faith in Jesus Christ leads to salvation.”  Treasure this gift at our hands, “inspired by the Holy Spirit” as it is for our instruction.  And I pray your teachers will always be as Paul, so faithful to the Lord in knowing His Word and living it with “resolution, fidelity, patience, love, and endurance, through persecutions and sufferings.”  Then your path will be straight on the way to God; then will your hearts and minds be filled with light.  There are many “evil men and charlatans” about who, “deceived themselves” and “deceiving others,” fail to drink of the undrainable waters of Scripture, and who avoid the Lord’s cross at all costs… listen not to these. “I turn not away from your decrees,” our psalmist declares, and so he finds “great peace” despite any trial.  Brothers and sisters, for us who love the Lord and are like the crowd in today’s gospel who “heard [His words] with great delight,” “there is no stumbling block.”  All our persecutions but add to our ever increasing knowledge of our Savior, drawing us ever closer to the kingdom of God, where Jesus reigns forever. ******* O LORD, as we contemplate your Word, we find you – you who are Truth, you who are God… and so have great peace. YHWH, let us stand in awe of you and your Word; Jesus Himself is the Word imparting wisdom to us that by faith in you we might be saved.  Lead us unto life everlasting by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And as we heed your Word, O LORD, and walk in His way, give us the endurance that comes from you; for indeed we shall be persecuted if to Him we remain true.  As Jesus was led to the Cross and all His apostles as well, so will all those obedient to your Word in Sacred Scripture, all those who find life in your commands.  But in you we shall ever have peace, for with you we shall ever be. O majestic LORD, far above us all, let us not be deceived by false teachers who would lead souls into sin but be ever guided by those you appoint to stand in Jesus’ place and guide the Church unto glory.  May your apostles remain firm in your way that all may come soon to your eternal kingdom.

(2Tm.2:8-15;   Ps.25:4-5,8-10,14;   Mk.12:28-34) “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior.” Brothers and sisters, “Remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of David, was raised from the dead.”  He is our Lord.  He is our God.  He is our Savior who speaks only truth.  Listen to Him and walk in His way, “following a straight course in preaching the truth.” After Jesus proclaims the greatest of all commandments today, finally, “no one ha[s] the courage to ask Him any more questions.”  Finally the traps cease to be set to catch Jesus in His speech and the leaders of the people “stop disputing about mere words.”  For who can argue with the Son of God when He makes known the clear path to God, when He exposes the heart of the law and the prophets in absolute terms?  Only silence can follow such Truth.  No vain utterance can stand in the face of such Love. For the command is love, and Jesus is love – and this Paul has come to preach, “even to the point of being thrown into chains.”  His only concern is for “those whom God has chosen, in order that they may obtain the salvation to be found in Christ Jesus.”  For this he preaches the Gospel unto death, that all might hear and know of the love of God… and should we not join him?  Should the Church not be a speaker of the truth in love, “a workman who has no cause to be ashamed”?  Should she cower to declare Christ Jesus risen from the dead and fear offending those on the path to destruction?  Should she stand by idly as false gospels are preached and docile lambs are led to the teeth of wolves in sheep’s clothing?  Does she not care for the flock as does Paul, as does Paul exhort Timothy?  Should it not be she who “guides the humble to justice” and “teaches the humble His way”? Brothers and sisters, “there is no chaining the word of God!” and there is no place for falsehood to stand in its light.  God is love and we must love others.  We do not love by nodding as others fall into error – this is not our call in the Lord.  We must teach the truth with Jesus our Lord with “heart,” “mind,” “soul,” and “strength,” His Spirit of love and truth upon us.  Then will all lies fall silent.  Then will light shine.  Then will His love be known and all come to the “eternal glory” He holds. ******* O LORD, teach us your way of love that humbly we might walk in it and teach it with strength to others. YHWH, Jesus is the true teacher of the faith, for He is risen from the dead – He is your Son, O God!  Who can dispute with His wisdom?  Who can question His knowledge, who compare with His holiness?  None there is beside Him, yet send us true teachers to speak in His Name. We are prone to go astray, dear LORD, to wander from your love, which is life itself to us.  We do indeed tend to forget why we’re here and fall easily into sin.  O send forth your preachers to remind us of your love, to remind us of the sacrifice your Son has made for us, and that He is risen from the dead.  For if we forget not that He is raised for our sakes, will not your love remain in our hearts; will we not conquer sin and death and live with you in love of one another?  Then let your Word come to us and make His home in us, that humbly we might worship you all the days of our life. O LORD, let us be faithful to your Word at work within us and live in your love.  May all our being bless your NAME!

(2Tm.1:1-3,6-12;   Ps.123:1-2;   Mk.12:18-27) “He has robbed death of its power and has brought life and immortality into clear light through the Gospel.” It is this Gospel which Paul exhorts his “dear child” Timothy to serve, to preach and to teach “with the strength which comes from God, bear[ing] [his] share of the hardship which the Gospel entails.”  Paul has suffered for the sake of the Gospel – and suffers “present hardships” till the end – and he would see his favored disciple carry on in his way.  And so he encourages him: “The Spirit God has given us is no cowardly spirit but rather one that makes us strong, loving, and wise.”  For of the life Christ brings the world must know, and who shall preach it if we don’t?  And so, through his letter Paul calls us all to be as he is, “an apostle of Christ Jesus sent to proclaim the promise of life in Him.” Does Jesus not bear well His hardships today in our gospel?  Does He not stand strong and speak of life everlasting even before those who “hold there is no resurrection”?  The Sadducees question Him: “At the resurrection, when they all come back to life, whose wife will she be” – she who has married so many?  Again a trap is laid, and again it is shown so futile, for what word can stand before the word of God.  And that Word answers simply and directly: “When people rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but live like angels in heaven.”  These Sadducees “fail to understand Scripture or the power of God,” and so they are terribly blind in their mistaken thinking, which sees nothing beyond the present time.  (Yet the present, too, they do not understand, for they do not recognize Him who stands before them.) Brothers and sisters, we are called to live like the angels of heaven, and not only to live such, but to preach this life as our Savior has done, as Paul has done, as Timothy.  We must keep “our eyes on the Lord, our God,” “confident that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to [us] until that Day” when we join Him who is “enthroned in heaven.”  And so let us “stir into flame the gift of God”; let us speak His Word of life without fear for the hardships the Gospel entails.  The Light that lasts forever has come into our midst, and before Him death has no dominion. ******* O LORD, through all the trials of this world, bring us to the light of Heaven. YHWH, God of the living, let our eyes be ever upon you, let us ever remember you whom we serve… and let us ever serve you with strength and dedication, knowing it is through you we are brought to new birth and made immortal as you.  O let us live with you now and forever! Why should we be afraid, LORD, of any challenge to our faith?  Why should we turn away from our call to worship in your NAME?  Why should we hesitate to proclaim your glory and the grace you bring us by your Son’s death and resurrection?  His sacrifice means life to us, and to turn from His Cross would spell our death.  May we serve Him and His Gospel in confidence all our days and so come to the place He prepares for us in Heaven. All your angels and saints live forever in your holy presence, their eyes ever upon you and their voices ever praising your NAME.  May we share with them in your holy life even as we toil for you on this plane.