The BreadCast

O sacrificial shepherd, you gave your life for your flock; a poor and humble man, you gathered the poor and humble of the Lord into the arms of His Church, where they might be fed with His grace. Ever with arms upraised you taught your people ever to pray and founded many houses of prayer; peace you brought to your church that all might serve the one true God – pray we shall be humble and lowly as you, dear shepherd, and so mirror the life of our Lord. Pray our lives be entrusted to Him, that whatever we do be in His will; whether we live or die, let it not matter to us, but only let matter the laying down of our lives, that by such sacrificial offering God's Word might go forth and all souls be welcomed into Abraham's arms.

(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.

O true Pastor of God's Church, defender of the faith from forces without and within her walls, you proved that this House founded by Christ the Lord shall never succumb to the powers of hell but ever stand strong against all tides of the world and the evil influence of the devil – pray though the flesh be weak, though every member be prone to sin, that all souls set on the Rock that is the bark of Peter shall repel every attack against the integrity of the faith and stand with Jesus as king over the flesh, as priest offering pure sacrifice, as prophet speaking His words… and so until the end of time may God's Church be ever blessed.

(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.

(Ez.47:1-2,8-9,12; Ps.46:1-3,5-6,8-9; 1Cor.3:9c-11,16-17; Jn.2:13-22) "There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High." On this the feast set aside to commemorate the cathedral of Peter, the Bishop of Rome, himself the founding stone upon which Christ builds His Church, we hear much of temples. In our first reading Ezekial sees in his vision, "water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple," water which brings life to the great sea and the fruit that grows upon its banks; the water that gladdens the holy dwelling of the Most High is spoken of in our psalm; Paul tells us we are "the temple of God," "God's building"; and zeal for the Father's house consumes the Lord, and so He purges it with whip in hand in our gospel today. But perhaps the most revelatory statement is, "He was speaking of the temple of His body," also from our gospel, and noted as explanation of Jesus' challenge to the Jews to destroy the temple and He would rebuild it in three days. This essential truth of the nature of the temple is substantiated by Paul's teaching of the care needed by those who build within the Church: "No one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ." Though he then goes on to say that we are the temple of God, wrought in all holiness, and though this is an equal truth, yet neither this truth, nor that which holds Peter as the founding "rock" of this Temple in which we dwell, have any basis without the essential understanding that Jesus is at the very heart of all our worship, of the Church we are. The Lord has indeed wrought "astounding things… on earth." He has made us as those trees along the banks of His river of life, bearing His fruit each month for the benefit of the world. He has made us His holy dwelling place and placed His Spirit upon us for the building up of His kingdom… But all of this has its source in the water of life itself, our Lord Jesus Christ. Brothers and sisters, as we celebrate our Church this day and the glorious blessings the Lord has bestowed upon us as His temple, as His children, let us not forget our Savior who has been the cause of and continues to be the cause of our joy. Let us be washed in the water from His side and be built up in His Body and His Blood. May we have His same zeal for the Father's House. Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Carie Fortney. Music by Carie Fortney; used by permission. ******* O LORD, purify this temple, destroyed by sin; let us truly be your House, dear God. YHWH, you are with us in the midst of your Church, your Son the very foundation of this Temple. And He is the Temple itself, we His very Body; and so, how holy we should be. Indeed, we should be as holy as you, our Most High God, as perfect as your only Son. It is Jesus' blood and the water flowing from His side that washes us clean and nourishes the growth of His holy Church. The waters of this River gladden the hearts of all who dwell in your House, O LORD. Upon the banks of this River let us ever remain, bearing fruit each month, each day, each hour, in your holy NAME. Beneath the Cross let us make our home, O holy LORD and God. Here alone in the shadow of Jesus' arms will we be made whole, will our temple be cleansed and we become your house of prayer. May the zeal of the Christ chastise our hearts and prepare them for your kingdom. May we be raised with Him on His Day and remain in your presence forever.

(Wis.6:12-16; Ps.63:2-8; 1Thes.4:13-18; Mt.25:1-13) "Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour." O Lord, "through the night-watches I will meditate on you: you are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy." "As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied, and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you"; for though "my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water" for you, O Living God, I have "gazed toward you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory," and you have met me with your "kindness." Your Wisdom "graciously appears to [me] in the ways, and meets [me] with all solicitude." "Resplendent and unfading is Wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her. She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of their desire; whoever watches for her at dawn shall not be disappointed, for he shall find her sitting by his gate. For taking thought of Wisdom is the perfection of prudence, and whoever for her sake keeps vigil shall quickly be free from care." I could not say it any better, or any differently, than the sacred author. Do not these words perfectly illustrate the Lord's message in our gospel today – Stay awake! Keep your lamps burning! Seek Wisdom! Be ready, and she will come to you; and you will be gathered into the marriage feast. Foolishly sit in darkness, unconcerned for your fate, and these ominous words shall resound in your barren soul: "Then the door was locked." And then there shall be no entering. I must again remark on the astounding lack of wisdom in the commentary of the missal I read. It states, "Paul is under the misconception that our Lord will return during his lifetime," ignorantly assuming that when he says, "We who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord," he is referring to himself and his companions. Oh my! Where do they derive the oil for their lamps? He is no more referring directly to himself in this instance than he is when he says, "If we believe that Jesus died and rose" – it is of the whole Church, of whatever time or place, he is speaking! How can our "scholars" not see this; and how can they be so ready to utter blasphemy against Holy Scripture and the Lord's Apostle, suggesting that he purports some greater knowledge of the Lord's return than the Lord Himself? Do they think he is as ignorant, or proud, as they? Brothers and sisters, we indeed have great hope of resurrection. When "the Lord Himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven," we will be caught up with Him "in the air," in His heavenly presence. But we must have His light within ourselves and keep watch for His Hour, waiting through the night for the dawn of His Day. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Watching the Sun" from Bearing the Birth Pangs, tenth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, nothing else matters but our union with you – let us be with you forever. YHWH, help us to keep vigil for you and for your Son's return. Let our hearts be set on your coming glory, that we may join in it ourselves. May our lamps shine brightly as we await the new Day; dispel all darkness from our midst. Give us the wisdom we need to remember your promise of new life in the kingdom – O let us be wed to Jesus, we pray! Through the night we meditate on you and on your Word; it is for you our souls thirst. What more could we desire than to be with you in Heaven? What more should we long for than your saving grace? And to those who seek you, you come, O LORD. To rescue us from the darkness you do not delay. For even as we remain in vigil, your wisdom hastens to shine the light of your face. May we be counted among those ready for your coming kingdom; with your Son may we enter the wedding feast. Awake let us be to share in your glory. O LORD, that we shall rise from the dead let us believe.

(Phil.4:10-19; Ps.112:1-2,5-6,8-9; Lk.16:9-15) "Well for the man who is gracious and lends." "Lavishly he gives to the poor; his generosity shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory." Such is the man who knows the proper use of this world's goods, that is, to give them all as "a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God." This shows that he "fears the Lord," that his heart is not set on the things of earth but the riches of heaven; and so to these shall he come. "Make friends for yourselves through your use of this world's goods," Jesus instructs His disciples, "so that when they fail" – when the goods of this world have faded into eternity – "a lasting reception will be yours" in the kingdom which does not pass away. Our life on this earth serves indeed as a kind of test. The Lord needs to see if He "can trust [us] in little things," in the passing things of this passing day; then He will know that He "can also trust [us] in greater," in the eternal graces of our heavenly homeland. How well shall we prove ourselves? The Philippians prove their generosity well. The Apostle Paul commends them for their repeated gifts to supply his needs as he preaches the Gospel. Here we see a perfect example of wise use of this world's goods, of their being given in service of God and man. And because of their generosity, there is "an ever-growing balance in [their] account," not of silver and gold, but of the "magnificent riches in Christ Jesus." As they empty themselves of what they have, as they give of their riches on this earth, the Lord gives them all they might desire of the true riches; as Paul says as he assures them he has been "fully paid" by the fruits they have offered: "My God in turn will supply your needs fully." "No servant can serve two masters." We either amass wealth for our own benefit in this world – and toward our own condemnation – or we give what we have for the benefit of God and others. We love God or we love money; there are no two ways. "The Pharisees, who were avaricious men, heard all this and began to deride Him." Does your heart tend to deride the generosity to which the Lord calls you, as do these? Is there yet mockery upon your tongue and lips against the preaching of the emptiness of this world's possessions? Do you also "justify yourselves in the eyes of men"? Know indeed that "God reads your hearts" and "what man thinks important, God holds in contempt." And if you would have it go well with you in the heavenly kingdom, you must practice the abounding generosity that is the heart of that kingdom (shown in our Lord's limitless mercy upon our souls), here with what is at your hands. ******* O LORD, take all that we have, all that we own, for your use and that of your Church. YHWH, let our hearts not be set on the wealth of this earth but let us rather use the goods at our hands to serve your kingdom. A fragrant offering let us make to you of our wealth and of ourselves that we might be acceptable in your sight. How shall we come to your kingdom, LORD, if we cling to this earth and its goods? How shall we share in your glory if our hearts are not generous as your own? We cannot be blessed if we are not a blessing to others, and your everlasting wealth, your eternal graces, we shall not find if we grasp at the possessions at our hands. We must indeed give generously of the things you provide here, and we will have the love that lasts forever. Your love let us know even now, O LORD; your joy let us take in providing for the poor, in supporting your workers in the vineyard. And you will lavishly bless us when the last day comes.

(Phil.3:17-4:1; Ps.122:1-5; Lk.16:1-8) "We have our citizenship in heaven." Brothers and sisters, we are not among "those who are set upon the things of this world." Always we must remember this. Though surrounded by worldly things, our hearts are not set upon them; rather, "we eagerly await the coming of our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Our hearts are set upon heaven. Then what are we to do with "this lowly body of ours" as we long for the Lord to "remake it according to the pattern of His glorified body"? What purpose have we of heaven here upon this earth? Is there nothing for us to do with this old form that has been afforded us? Is emptiness all we are to know here? We must know and remember, brothers and sisters, that in this dark world we are called to light; we are called to "go up to the house of the Lord" even here where we stand. Is the Church not with us? And has not the Lord left His sacraments with her, that even now we may be transformed into the new creation He makes us? We do not wait in vain for our Savior to come; we do not sit empty here as we long for His Day. He is here now with a measure of His grace; "His power to subject everything to Himself" is already evident in our midst… and we must join with that power and work diligently to transform not only ourselves into the image of Christ, but the dark world we see around us as well. "Be imitators of me," Paul encourages his brother Philippians. In warning them against those who "go about in a way which shows them to be enemies of the cross of Christ," he exhorts them to be the cross's friend – to prove their mettle as they continue "to stand firm in the Lord." There are those for whom "their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame," and the "devious employee" of whom Jesus speaks may well be among these. But though we are called in no way to imitate his wickedness, yet we must see that he is given "credit for being enterprising" by the owner, despite the fact that he had been "dissipating his property." "Why?" indeed. And how can the Lord use an example such as this to teach us of the kingdom? Here the Lord employs great wisdom, and calls us to do the same. For He reveals to us how even in one destined to condemnation there is yet the spark of intelligence. ("I have it!" he declares, after taking consideration.) And should not this light of intelligence, which comes only from our Maker, be in us who are to be found entirely of light? And should we not bring the light of salvation through the gifts the Lord provides us even to those like this employee who are most in darkness? Should the devil control the things around us, the things here at our King's feet, or should we? Our citizenship in heaven requires us to employ its light here on this earth. There is much we owe our Master. Wise as serpents and harmless as doves let us be. ******* O LORD, we are citizens of your kingdom; help us on this earth to find our way to your House and remain there. YHWH, help us to stand firm in you and do your will, and so come to your holy kingdom. In the New Jerusalem let us make our home and not in this dark and empty world. If we could but be imitators of your Apostle, LORD, and so of your Son, carrying our cross eagerly as we await His coming; then we would hear you calling us to your House and rejoice in your glorious presence. Give us the wisdom, O LORD, to find our way to you, to do well your work upon this plane, our hearts not set on love of gain but making your blessing our only desire. O that we might be forgiven our debt even as we forgive those in debt to us and to you! Remake us in your image, LORD, in the image of your Son. Let us enter your gates with thanksgiving and praise your holy NAME. And help us to bring others to you and so finish the work Jesus has begun.

(Phil.3:3-8; Ps.105:2-7; Lk.15:1-10) "I have come to rate all as loss in the light of the surpassing knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ." Paul tells us, "Those things I used to consider gain I have now reappraised as loss in the light of Christ." The "legal observance" he grasped so tightly – having been "circumcised on the eighth day," "a Hebrew of Hebrew origins," himself a Pharisee – he now looses to the wind, desiring only to be among those "who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus," and "seek[ing] to serve Him constantly." What matters but Jesus and His love, and "the judgments He has uttered"? But this justice those who remain as Paul was cannot begin to consider, for they say to themselves as Paul once said of himself: "I [am] above reproach when it [comes] to justice based on the law"… yet do they hold tightly to their fine legal observances, looking down upon those who are below their reproach and judging them all as loss, as wayward sheep destined for the fires of Gehenna. And this Man eats with them! But what is loss in their eyes becomes great gain in the eyes of God, for there is "more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent"; and the angels sing in praise as they see the Son of Man sitting and ministering to these sinners, drawing them, as He has been sent to do, into the kingdom's gates. The Lord "light[s] a lamp and sweep[s] the house in a diligent search" for straying souls. When He succeeds, He calls us all, saying, "Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep." And will we be jealous of the Lord's discovery, as the Pharisees and scribes, or will we realize that we all have need of repentance, that we are all that lost sheep, that lost coin which the Lord treasures so once He holds it in His hand again? Brothers and sisters, it is in the Lord's hands we must always place ourselves; this is to be in the light of the surpassing knowledge of Christ. By our own hands, in our own wills – "putting our trust in the flesh" – what do we make but corruption, even as our first parents who desired so to hold the apple in their hands and eat it at their pleasure? In things themselves, and our willful manipulation of them, we find only a knowledge that brings death, that leads to darkness. And who will lead us out of such darkness? Jesus, who is Light. In trust in Him we realize we do not know the good we do, for all of any worth is of His making. And so all our desire is for knowledge of "the wondrous deeds that He has wrought" and forgetfulness of our sinful selves. Rejoice in the Lord's salvation! ******* O LORD, help us to repent of our sin and leave behind all things of the flesh, that we might live in the glory of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. YHWH, how you desire our repentance, our return to you. For this you send your only Son to sit among us and call us to your side – for this He shall even die. May the light He shines find a place in our hearts that we shall be found by Him and lifted up on His shoulders… that we might be raised to Heaven. We are all poor sinners, LORD, lost to ourselves and lost to you. We are all blinded by the things of this world and the pride we take in our work among them. And so, darkness overtakes us. Yet you call us to glory in you and in the wondrous deeds that you have wrought in your mercy. Yet we may be gathered into your arms and rejoice in your NAME. Yet if we listen to your Son we shall know redemption, we shall return to you. And you will rejoice with all your angels that we have come to you, that we have found your glory. Our joy will be your joy, good God, for your love will be our own.

O defender of the Catholic faith in which all the saints make their home, O great pastor of souls, shepherd of Christ's flock, who would see all enter fully into the fold only the saints know – pray for the Lord's Church this day, that it shall never turn away from the Truth which is at its heart, from the Son of God who made it, forming it in His own blood; pray our souls be set on prayer to Him, our minds on meditation on His life, that nothing may distract us from His holy presence within the walls of Mother Church and within our own hearts.