The BreadCast

(1Cor.9:16-19,22-27; Ps.84:2-6,8,12; Lk.6:39-42) "Although I am not bound to anyone, I made myself the slave of all so as to win over as many as possible." How like His Lord is Paul in his declaration, "To the weak I became a weak person with a view to winning the weak." For as Jesus descended from heaven to take on flesh and save those corrupted by its sin, so the Apostle has made himself "all things to all people," stepping inside their skin "in order to save at least some of them." Indeed, Paul proves himself to be "on a par with his teacher" in sacrifice and fruitfulness, for how well he serves "to remove the speck from [his] brother's eye" that he might see Jesus in the clear light of day. The Apostle has been "entrusted with a charge," that of "preaching the Gospel." And doing so willingly he finds his "recompense." And what is this recompense but that he receive nothing in return for his work, nothing here on earth except of course the blessing of persecution such work for the Master entails? Then why engage in such toil, and why call others to such a life of self-sacrifice? Ah yes, because of the "crown that is imperishable" which awaits the runner of such a race. This heavenly blessing, too, is found when one does all "for the sake of the Gospel." "My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God," our psalmist intones today, and goes on to proclaim the happiness of those "who dwell in [God's] house." "Continually they praise [Him]… They go from strength to strength," for "grace and glory He bestows." This is the goal Paul has in mind when he says, "I do not run like a man who loses sight of the finish line." All his tribulations never distract him from his final destination; the kingdom of heaven remains ever upon his heart. And ever does he strain forward that he and so many others might attain that crown for which "our soul yearns and pines." Brothers and sisters, we must "discipline [our] own body and master it"; we must "remove the plank lodged in [our] own [eye]" if we hope to join Paul in the place where "even the sparrow finds a home and the swallow a nest in which she puts her young." And our young we, too, must bring there – all those in our charge must know of the kingdom of God. And so let us join Paul and our holy Lord in here becoming slaves of all, enduring our exile bravely that we might draw others to the eternal home found on the altar of the living God. ******* O LORD, let us be led by your holy apostles to lay down our lives with your Son, that we might find our home in you. YHWH, all holy hearts long for your presence, long to make their home in your house; and you send to us apostles, teachers of your way, that we might find you. O may the vision of all be made clear to see your glory! May all learn the lesson they need to know, taught by your Son in His sacrifice and carried on by His disciples. We long to praise you, LORD, but there is a log in our eye that blinds us to your coming kingdom. Help us to remove all obstruction, all distraction, all our blindness, that we might not lose sight of the blessings you offer to those who spend their lives for the sake of the Gospel. Let us rather carry that Good News of salvation to all souls, serving to remove the specks from their eyes by your grace and mercy. Help us to be slaves of all that all might make their home in you. Keep us from the pit, we pray, by your guidance and secure protection. Let us always yearn for you.

(1Cor.8:1-7,11-13; Ps.139:1-3,13-14,23-24; Lk.6:27-38) "The measure you measure with will be measured back to you." And what is your measuring stick, brother? Is it the ruler of this earth, limited by eyes of flesh? Or is it the yardstick of heaven, which reaches unto the Lord's side and finds us in His sight? Do you toil on this plane alone, or do you climb the mountain where He sits, where He teaches? Do your ears hear only of the debits and credits recorded in the book of this world; or are they open to the word the Lord speaks, and the generous outpouring of His grace? In our first reading Paul states: "'Knowledge' inflates, but love upbuilds." What he means is that our knowledge of earthly things can do little but inflate our pride, and thinking that this is true knowledge makes us blind. The "knowledge" that we should seek is the love of God, which comes from God and teaches us all things. "If anyone loves God, that man is known by Him," and living thus in His sight, in His light, we see all with heavenly vision. With this wisdom we understand that "there is no God but one" and that "an idol is really nothing": all the idols man makes upon this earth are empty and vain, and all the teaching which comes from such has no resonance, falls short of truth. Yet we are called to be patient with the weakness of others, with their failures in faith. We must "not be an occasion of sin" for others but always be prepared to pardon and love even those who hate us. For if someone does violence to us, what do we teach these who cannot measure beyond earthly passion if we do them violence in return? If we answer with violence, what language do we speak but that of the world? But we are called to converse with heavenly tongues, even with the word of our Lord, and cannot rightly be called His sons if we do not do so. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them." And you are thus but saying that you are a child of the earth and not heaven, living in the flesh and not the spirit. "Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb," is David's song of joy to God. He gives thanks that he is "fearfully, wonderfully made." And if made by God should we not reflect God and the love He has revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ? Should we not be as His Son? And so, should we not with David call upon the Lord to "probe" us and to "know [our] heart" and our "thoughts," that He might straighten out our "crooked" ways and set us on the path His love prepares? Do we not desire the overflowing joy He brings? Then we must measure as He, with the heavenly yardstick that reaches up to where the Trinity is. ******* O LORD, if we could but learn to love as you, how blessed we would be! YHWH, let us learn your lesson of love, your perfect knowledge, by putting into practice love of all, even our worst enemies. If we repay evil with good, then we shall be like you; then we shall know as you know, that nothing surpasses love. LORD, you know all things for you see all things, even the hidden matters of the heart. Nothing is hidden from your eye but all is bathed in your wonderful light. But we shall not find that light or your knowledge if we do not love, and love without measure. All remains dark for those lacking love. Let us but be concerned for our brother's welfare, LORD, that he shall not sin, that he shall turn from his sin to find you. And so, let us not judge, let us not condemn, or we shall not show him your holy face and he will never come to you – and we will not know you either. Let us rejoice to turn the other cheek, to give to all who would take from us, to be compassionate even toward those who hurt us. For then we will know you and your love.

O slave to the slaves, to those who came in chains to the new world, those whose dark skin made them seem to eyes of flesh less than men… to you these were children of God, souls to be saved by His love and through His Church, and so the thousands baptized by your hands celebrate your glorious sacrifice this day in God's presence – pray for us, dear brother, that the shackles of racial prejudice, the pride that exalts man above man, shall fall from our hands, our tongues and our hearts, and that all of the Lord's holy people will work so diligently as you, His blessed slave, for the care of the weakest among us and the salvation of all souls.

(1Cor.7:25-31; Ps.45:11-12,14-17; Lk.6:20-26) "The world as we know it is passing away." And so, "hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, forget your people and your father's house," for the King is calling you from this passing world to the heavenly marriage feast – "He is your Lord, and you must worship Him." This call is for every chosen soul, for who is the Lord's virgin daughter, who is His Bride but the Church? It is she who is called, even as the Virgin Mother who has preceded her to heaven, and each of our souls must be wed to Him alone. And we who leave all behind to follow Him "shall be filled" and "shall laugh" on the Day of our marriage, for "the reign of God" will be ours. It is not in this world we take our "consolation" – how sad those who do so. For the riches of this world will rust and rot, and its laughter shall prove so hollow. Thus Paul instructs the wise: "Buyers should conduct themselves as though they owned nothing," for in truth they have nothing at all: of what worth is that which does not last? Only an illusion are the temporary pleasures and vain accolades of this dying earth. The trials we find are all that should cause us to "rejoice and exult, for [our] reward shall be great in heaven" if we endure our exile well. To those who consider marriage, Paul gives the instruction: "[You] will have trials in this life, and these I should like to spare you." Certainly marriage is not sinful, and is even a fruitful sacrament, but even this which can be such a blessing is but passing in the eyes of God. And the attachment we find to our spouse, again, though blessed by the Lord, is a union that is also passing – one which must be ultimately left as well. Since only our marriage to the living God is that which endures, Paul in his wisdom offers this word: "Those with wives should live as though they had none"; for this beauty, too, shall fade, and it is not in it we are called to make our home. Yes, "the time is short," brothers and sisters. The time is always short because time itself is passing – only eternity remains. And so, set not your hearts on the fading things of this life. The Lord who has died now prepares a place for you in His heavenly kingdom. And "all glorious is the King's daughter as she enters; her raiment is threaded with spun gold." So, to His palace be "borne in with gladness and joy"… join now the song of all His saints in our heavenly homeland. ******* O LORD, let us turn from the things of this world and set our hearts on your kingdom, which passes not away. YHWH, help us to remember that this world is passing away, that we should thus be attached to nothing of this world, and certainly not make our home in it, seeking the riches it offers. Help us to set our hearts on you and seek you alone, forgetting all that is not of you. For we wish to enter your kingdom, to sing your praises with all your saints, but how shall we come there if fattened on the fruits of this earth? LORD, your Apostle's counsel is a very wise one – to make use of the things of this world as if we were not using them at all, always with an eye to their temporal nature, that they are indeed passing away. For if we remember this world is passing, we shall better remember you who are eternal. You are all that matters. You are all that matters, LORD, and so let us cry out for your presence, hungering for your kingdom. Let us give up all of this world that we might find you present to us, and make our home in your palace forever.

O Virgin who bore the Son of God, who became the divine dwelling place for the Creator of us all, should we not celebrate your birth this day, the blessing of the generation of you who signal our salvation? Pray for us, dear Mother, pray for all your children, all who would call themselves sons of God and brothers of our Lord Jesus Christ... pray that all generations will call you blessed, that all will hail you as Mother of our Savior and glorify the Lord who has filled you with His grace. You are one of us, dear Virgin Mary, one of the human creation, yet in you God deigns to dwell; pray we shall all be made worthy to be such a temple for the Lord.

(Mic.5:1-4 or Rm.8:28-30; Ps.13:6,Is.61:9; Mt.1:1-16,18-23 Note: I shall treat of both first readings) "It is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived this child." "God is with us," brothers and sisters, and how has He chosen to come among us but through a woman, but through a virgin found with child? And this Virgin daughter of Israel from "Bethlehem-Ephrathah, too small to be among the clans of Judah" – she the humblest of the chosen people, the meekest servant of our race – has been thus greatly blessed "according to His decree," for she is the first whom God "predestined to share the image of His Son." She is the first of Christians prepared and called by the Lord, and now "in turn glorified" in His presence. It is her birth, it is her role in our salvation we celebrate today, for by her complicity with the will of God "now His greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth; He shall be peace." The fact that "God makes all things work together for the good of those who have been called" is evident both in the situation of Mary's life as Mother of the Lord and in the very fact of her call itself. First of all, God chooses this woman, this humble creature of the chosen race of His most humble creation to participate with Him in bringing His Son and His salvation into the world. The lengthy genealogy at the start of our gospel also bears witness to the very human nature of Jesus, whose "family record" can indeed be traced so precisely, and among whose ancestors are many who were far less perfect than He – including a prostitute, an adulterer, and evil kings. God chooses to come through man, through a woman, to make quite real His redemptive power over the sins of our race, to put flesh to the eternal Word of the Father. And in the particular situations of Mary's life, we see how difficulties, how "bitterness," if you will, is turned to sweetness, too, for we note that Joseph was prepared to divorce his yet-to-be wife when found with child, and we know that the prophet tells us a sword shall pierce her heart as well as her Son's; but that notwithstanding, and indeed through that cross she bears with Him, she shall find the glorification promised all children of the Most High. She certainly shares now in the fruits of His redemption. And we also share in these same fruits, brothers and sisters. We are likewise predestined and called and justified and glorified if we make ourselves as obedient as our Mother in the faith. He "whose origin is from of old" is with us now, too, and so we should "sing of the Lord, 'He has been good to me'" as we "rejoice in [His] salvation" at work within us, a salvation whose coming was prepared in the birth of the Immaculate Virgin Mary and by the power of the Holy Spirit brought to us through she who shares our own flesh. Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Carie Fortney. Muisc by Carie Fortney; used by permission. ******* O LORD, through the Blessed Virgin Mary you have sent your only Son to save us from our sins – may He be always with us. YHWH, your Son has come among us through the Virgin Mary, to be with us and save us from our sins. May we welcome Him into our lives as has Mary, as has Joseph, and so find ourselves led to glory with you. In you do we trust; let us sing of your salvation. So humbly Jesus has come to us, through a humble virgin, a child called by you to share His image, to encompass Him with devotion that she might bear Him to us – and He has allowed Himself to be made so humble, to be found in her womb as a child of our race. He has come to this place, O LORD, as the leaven of peace and truth that the darkness which surrounds us might be dispelled by His majestic presence. O let His glory reach to the ends of the earth! By the Holy Spirit, Mary has conceived and served to bring Christ to us. Prepare us, O LORD, as you have prepared her to fulfill your Word among us.

(1Cor.5:1-8; Ps.5:5-7,9,12; Lk.6:6-11) "Let us celebrate the feast not with the old yeast, that of corruption and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." For indeed, "Christ our Passover has been sacrificed"; indeed, the new Sabbath has come. And on the Day of the Lord only goodness remains. "Get rid of the old yeast to make of yourselves fresh dough," Paul commands the Corinthians as he chastises them for their "boasting" and self-satisfaction even while tolerating a professed sinner in their midst. He writes here to insist that they should be "grieving and getting rid of the offender," both for the sake of the community and that the sinful man's "spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord." For, as David makes quite evident in his psalm, God "delight[s] not in wickedness; no evil remains with [Him]." And as for the vain pride of the community: "the arrogant may not stand in [His] sight." It is not an unkind exaggeration to say that the Lord "hate[s] all evildoers." The sharp line dividing evil and good Jesus would make clear as He confronts the scribes and Pharisees in the synagogue on the sabbath, "a man whose right hand was withered" standing before Him: "I ask you," He says, "is it lawful to do good on the sabbath – or evil? To preserve life – or destroy it?" Then He heals the man, much to the chagrin of the scribes and Pharisees who deem this unlawful work for the day. But in the Lord's House and on His Day good is always and only done – and certainly this healing is a blessed act. And since only the good remain in His House, just as the man who is "living with his own father's wife" will be purged from the Corinthian community at Paul's urging, so by the word of our Lord Jesus Christ these false leaders who harbor such distrust and jealousy will be cast from within the walls of the Lord's Church; for "the bloodthirsty and deceitful the Lord abhors," and indeed the blood of the Son is upon their hearts, and will be upon their hands. But we, brothers and sisters, we have the new feast, the new Sabbath before us now. We come now into His House to eat His Body and drink His Blood. Each day, in fact, we may celebrate the greatness of God's glory and the grace of His presence in our midst. And so, let us celebrate with a pure spirit, with His cleansing blood upon our hearts, that our goodness may be preserved and we who "love [His] name" and "take refuge in [Him]" may "be glad and exult forever." ******* O LORD, why is man's heart so set against you? YHWH, the arrogant cannot stand before you, those who have the desire for evil in their hearts and blood upon their hands. How can they begin to know your undying love, those who would condemn even the Son of Man? Should not the broken and sinful man always stretch his hand out to you? Is your arm somehow shortened in its merciful reach? Should we think that you, O LORD and God, are somehow limited in the dispensing of your grace? Will not Jesus show us otherwise as He stretches His arms out on the Cross? And what shall save those who do not accept His embrace, who would rather embrace this corrupt and wicked generation? Condemnation shall be pronounced over the rebellious soul, unless he repents of his evil. O LORD, let us eat only the bread of sincerity and truth; let us desire only your goodness upon all. O let us embrace your Son!

(Ez.33:7-9; Ps.95:1-2,6-9; Rom.13:8-10; Mt.18:15-20) "O wicked one, you shall surely die." The Lord declares to the prophet Ezekiel: "You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel." He is to "speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way," that the sinner might not "die for his guilt" and that the prophet himself might not be "responsible for his death" by his silence. As the Lord calls Ezekiel, so He requires all the Church to "warn the wicked, trying to turn him from his way." We must be diligent with all those in our care, all those we find in need, not in order to deliver condemnation upon souls but to invite all to "bow down in worship" and "kneel before the Lord who made us." How can someone know this great glory if there is sin upon his soul? And how will he know to turn from his sin if those the Lord gives words to speak hold their tongues as the sheep goes astray? And what shall become of this soul who has not offered the word of loving wisdom, but rather determined in himself that there is no hope for the sinner he sees? Brothers and sisters, when we are called to declare: "'You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,' and whatever other commandment there may be," it is out of love for the soul we see straying that we speak. For love is "the fulfillment of the law"; it sums up all its precepts, and so all its precepts are expressed in love. Do not think the law is opposed to love – love and justice are one in God; and the Lord does not call us to ignorance or acceptance of sin, but to truth and salvation. "Jesus said to His disciples, 'If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault'"; do not pretend the fault does not exist, but confront him, for his sake and your own. For "if he listens to you, you have won over your brother" – you will have brought him back to the fold. However, "if he doesn't listen," the Lord calls us further: "Take one or two others along with you." Bring objective witness to sway your loved one from evil. And "if he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church." Ah, the Church! The keeper of the Spirit of Truth and the flame of wisdom which no man can deny. What teaching the Lord has left with Her! And what power: "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." For here are those "gathered together in [Jesus'] name," and He indeed is "in the midst of them." And if the soul "refuses to listen even to the Church," what hope has it of finding salvation? But at least you have done all you can. All must be done in justice and in love to save the soul straying in this land. This is why the Lord has left us the Church; this is why He has left His Spirit – and we are called to speak His Truth, that salvation might come to all. 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, help us to love one another, to bring one another to repentance that all might sing your praise. YHWH, help us to love others as we should, to speak the truth to them; let our concern be the salvation of souls, as it is for your Son. LORD, you institute the Church to be your representative on earth, and you call each member to reflect your love and your glory; your justice must be the desire of every soul. And we must show that desire in our relations with others, in our concern for their welfare. Who could stand by and let his brother perish if he truly loves him? And will not sin cause the death of any who will not repent? And so, what should we do but speak out in your Name? Let our tongues not be silent as we see others fall. Especially your pastors we pray for this day, that they not be afraid to chastise their flock, to warn them against wayward paths. And let their words be heeded, LORD – save souls from dying in their sin, that all might praise your holy NAME.

O lover of the poor and of the unborn, in whom you saw the face of Christ, by whom you held Him close to your heart and so comforted His thirst for souls – pray for us who are so blind to the presence of Christ in the least among us or even in those beside us. Pray, dear Mother, that we will hear their cry, which is Jesus' cry from the Cross, and that we shall not fear the darkness as we enter beneath the shadow of His loving arms, where we shall find true light.

(1Cor.4:9-15; Ps.145:17-21; Lk.6:1-5) "God has put us apostles at the end of the line, like men doomed to die in the arena." "Up to this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, poorly clad, roughly treated, wandering about homeless," the great Apostle Paul tells us of the persecution and slander all the Lord's apostles must undergo. And yet "when we are insulted we respond with a blessing," for this is our call in the Lord: to love even our enemies, that we might show the love of God to all, that we might indeed become "a spectacle to the universe, to angels and men alike" – "fools on Christ's account," yet bearing all patiently that the Gospel might truly be fulfilled and the last shall be shown to be first in the eyes of God. It is this birth to which Paul brings the Corinthians, his "beloved children." And though it seem a difficult fate to call down upon a people, yet we know that David's psalm is true, that "the Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth"; and so through all trials He leads us and comforts us, making any suffering a light burden to bear. And just as Paul is father to this nation, so the Father of all is there always to watch over all His children, for it is "in Christ Jesus" the Apostle has begotten them; and as He has heard the cry of His Son upon the cross and brought Him to resurrection, so "He hears [all His children] cry and saves them." In our gospel the Lord's disciples are hungry, and so, in the hot sun, "walking through the standing grain" with Jesus, He feeds them: all around is food at their hands. Truly their prayer does He answer; their need does He see. But instead of seeing that the Lord "fulfills the desire of those who fear Him," all the Pharisees can do is ask, "Why are you doing what is prohibited on the sabbath?" Thus the very men who should be present to bless and comfort and guide the followers of the Holy One can but call them into the arena of persecution with the rest of the fallen world. Thus the shepherds who are called to feed the sheep would remove the food from their hands and see them perish. Instead of becoming apostles themselves, they become their bane. For they cannot comprehend that God's love transcends God's law, that "the Lord keeps all who love Him" and this is what makes Him "just in all His ways and holy in all His works," and not the mere precepts to which they hold so desperately, so blindly… so jealously. Thus the chosen of God become in their eyes "the world's refuse, the scum of all." And what can they be but crucified? All must come to the holy Lord and "all flesh bless His holy name forever and ever." And though war be brought upon our souls, we must always "try conciliation" – peacemakers covered with blood and spittle is the state to which we are called. No other way will the world come to know that the love of God transcends all, and all call upon Him from their hearts. ******* O LORD, though persecuted and poor, we are surrounded with your presence, and so are fed in times of famine. YHWH, you are our LORD and God; when we cry out to you, you save us. Though we must endure persecution for your sake, though we suffer want and go hungry, you surround us with standing grain – you are ever near to help us. Let us indeed praise your holy NAME! What should it matter to us if we are beaten, if we are insulted and spat upon; if you are with us we are free of pain, for all these things your Son endures for our sake. We are your children and you love us, so even these trials you turn to good. Remain ever with us to save us by the Cross of your only Son. He is Lord over even the Sabbath. He has power from on high. For you, LORD, have given all things over into His hands, and for us He does provide. Our rest we take in Him, our food He places in our mouths – through Him we remain close to you: He is our Bread of Life. And so, let us rejoice to walk in His way.