The BreadCast

O blessed reformer of the Church who by a holy austerity cleansed your soul of the corruption of this world and served by example to lead others to a religious life – teach us this day of the chastising hand of God and the suffering which leads to joy, that in the will of the Lord we might all be purged of our dross and come to the kingdom of Heaven. Pray that we, too, might realize and so benefit from the blessing upon us when our souls are lashed with pains that threaten sorrow, for He does but wish to lift us from the sinfulness of this passing earth to the consolation of His presence.

(Lv.19:1-2,17-18; Ps.103:1-4,8,10,12-13; 1Cor.3:16-23; Mt.5:38-48) "Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy." In the Book of Leviticus God says, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," and this is good. But in the gospel Jesus adds, "Love your enemies" – and this is better. In the old law we are commanded, "Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people"; but in the new we hear, "Offer no resistance to anyone who is evil," and even, "Pray for those who persecute you." For now it is revealed that all are God's children, and so all must be loved as brothers. "Is this wise?" you say, to love our enemies. "Is this not foolishness?" Indeed the wisdom of the world would call it so, but we are called to "become a fool, so as to become wise" in the eyes of God. For what the Lord calls us to in this is no less than to be like Him, to become the very "temple of God" where "the Spirit of God dwells." "Merciful and gracious is the Lord," and so are we called to be. "Not according to our sins does He deal with us," and so we should not deal with others according to theirs. Our "Father has compassion on His children," and we must have the same for all. Has any of you put the words of the Lord into practice? Has anyone sought to discover such love? If you have then you know the glory it holds, the glory of a love which surpasses all. And though justice is not wanting for those who reject it, His love cannot but be poured upon all. O the happiness of the soul that receives such grace! Oh the joy of him who knows the blessing of such utter sacrifice! What greater blessing can there be than to "be perfect, just as [our] heavenly Father is perfect"? With David the soul alight with God's love sings: "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless His holy name." With Mary the Mother of God our soul proclaims His greatness as we come to know "all His benefits" in the service of His love. And our transgressions are put far from us; and the Lord's grace abounds within us – and like His Son do we become, who upon the cross forgave even those who nailed Him to this tree. Brothers and sisters, no greater love will we ever find. It is this gift of holiness our Lord calls us to this day. Let us love as He. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "True Love" from Loving Spirit, third album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, how shall we be holy as you are holy if we do not love as you love? YHWH, you have redeemed our lives from destruction; you have not judged us according to our sins but looked upon us with compassion, offering forgiveness for our crimes, for you are love and mercy itself. And you call us to be like you. If we are to be your Temple, O LORD, if we are to reflect your glory, then we must go beyond the desire to strike those who strike us, to answer evil with evil. We must learn to listen to the blessed words of your Son and love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us… for only then will we come to know you, to be like you, who love us as we strike you repeatedly on the cheek, who ever open your arms to all your prodigal sons. We must transcend our own minds to find the surpassing grace and wisdom only you know. Blessed be your holy NAME, O LORD! Let us be holy as you are holy! Let us heed the wisdom of your Son, who calls us to eternal love.

(Heb.11:1-7; Ps.145:2-5,10-11; Mk.9:2-13) "Rabbi, how good it is for us to be here." In yesterday's gospel Jesus promised, "Among those standing here there are some who will not taste death until they see the reign of God established in power." And today we witness the keeping of that promise, as upon "a high mountain" Jesus is transfigured before the eyes of Peter, James, and John. In all His glory does the Christ appear, with Elijah and Moses standing near and the voice of God the Father speaking of the blessing of His only Son. Indeed, how good it is for these apostles to be here! But what these favored apostles see is not for their eyes alone; through them all shall come to believe and so find vision of our glorious Lord. Through them and their witness, faith is strengthened in all our hearts, faith which enables us to "perceive that the worlds were created by the word of God, and that what is visible came into being through the invisible." Yes, the invisible is made known to all our eyes by the power of God, and all the Lord's disciples join Peter, James, and John on Mount Tabor, basking in the vision of the glorified Son. Know first though, brothers and sisters, that "anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He rewards those who seek Him." Indeed, first one must have faith, or to one's eyes nothing will be revealed. Have faith and know that God is a loving God, that He desires greatly to share His glory with all His children of faith; even as He has with Peter, James, and John; even as He has with Abel, Enoch, and Noah; even as He has with Moses and Elijah. But it is only "because of faith the men of old were approved by God," only because of faith His apostles were able to see His Light shining – and only by your faith that you too will come into His presence. Have you their "confident assurance" burning in your souls? It is not far from you. O Lord, "let all your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might." Let all proclaim the favor with which you have deigned to grace their lives. Now that you have "risen from the dead," now that our cause for faith is made complete, now that its firm foundation is set… open our mouths to declare your glory. We know that you had to "suffer much and be despised" and that with Elijah, with the Baptist, "they did entirely as they pleased," but we do not fear the persecution which must come – only let us be where you are. ******* O LORD, make visible to us your invisible presence and let us live in the light of your glory. YHWH, if we had but faith in you, what might our eyes not see? What awe might we know in your presence if our hearts were but set on worship of your glorious majesty. And why should we not have faith, LORD? Are there not signs of your glory everywhere, and most of all within our souls? Can we not hear you speaking to us if we but listen? Could we not see you if we but opened our eyes? Why should we need the proof this world requires when the proof you give is so much greater? Are we not living in your Word, O LORD? Are you not hope itself? Then let us but live and we shall know you, and such knowledge will be undeniable. Reveal to us your glory, LORD. Let us know what your apostles know; let us be witness to your majesty. Now that Jesus is risen let all the ends of the earth declare that your glory has come among us.

O teacher and father of the children in your care, in whose hands they were not abandoned but held in patience by Christ’s love – teach us, too, to have that same patience, to have that same love for those the Lord places in our care, that anger shall be banished from our hearts and our minds, that the wisdom of Christ’s sacrifice you taught and lived we too might embody, and so serve in raising the kingdom of Heaven among the children of this earth. And pray that we, too, may know the Lord’s gentle word and touch upon our own souls  and so grow into His likeness.

O wise doctor of the Church who ate the bread of angels in your long hours of prayer and study and writing and shared with us the knowledge you gained of the sublime truth of God, shedding the light of reason upon the faith we hold so dear – teach us this day to know God that we might better love and serve Him, that we might not be blind to His presence in our midst, to the holiness to which He calls us. Pray we shall enter into His Cross, His love, His obedience; pray we, too, might have knowledge, true knowledge of His grace and the everlasting life which is ours in Him… and pray the Lord send us holy teachers to fill your shoes.

O holy virgin and spiritual mother to the poorest of girls, whom you protected and guided in wisdom and love, keeping them from the snares of the world and raising them in Christ; you who fulfilled so well the twofold call to love God and save souls – pray for those who so easily go astray this day in a world of great corruption, where souls are in danger of being captured by the wiles of Satan and sin; and pray, too, that there shall be many who desire as you have, with the living love of God, to bring them into His fold.

O blessed disciples of Paul and shepherds of the Church who imitated so well your father in the faith who imitated only the Lord Jesus Christ and thirsted for His Cross – pray this holy Apostle be our father, too, and you with him, that we too might embrace the Cross; teach us the sound doctrine handed on to you that we may hand it on and all souls might fight the good fight and run the race with Jesus unto eternal life. Pray for all the shepherds of the Church that they be faithful as you have been to rightful authority.

O you who persecuted the Church of God but then preached the faith in earnest, you upon whom abundant mercy fell, whose weakness became strength as each day in bearing extraordinary torments you grew closer to God – show us the way to Heaven. Pray we fall continually from our horse, from our pride, and allow the Lord to change our lives. Pray repentance be our constant food, that the love of Jesus and His forgiveness we shall ever know in greater measure.

O most devout spiritual guide, great pastor of your flock and of all souls, you who speak to us even this day with your words of wisdom and blessed direction – pray every branch of Jesus’ vine may aspire to His perfection; in whatever state we find ourselves, let us set our hearts on loving the Lord and serving Him and neighbor prayerfully. Teach us to pray faithfully, to offer our lives in all situations, all for the glory of God. Our call may we hear and heed by your intercession, following the Christ and carrying His Cross as He leads.

(Heb.9:2-3,11-14; Ps.47:2-3,6-9; Mk.3:20-21) "Behind the second veil was the tabernacle call the holy of holies." To this holy of holies in the temple of Jerusalem only the high priest could come, and only once a year. So holy was it deemed. This tabernacle contained the ark of the Lord with the two tablets upon which the commandments of God were written, and some manna from the Israelites' travels through the desert. This was truly sacred ground for God's chosen people, a place they held in awe. In our gospel the people press upon Jesus; they gather in great numbers at the door of the house where He is staying, sensing that this place is a holy of holies, that there is something inside that makes it sacred. But from this holy tabernacle they are not excluded for its sanctity, but welcomed by Him who is inside, who makes it holy. So much does He welcome those who come to His door that He does not take time even to eat. Better He should feed those who come to Him with His sacred presence than that He should feed Himself, for He will not see any turned away. My brothers and sisters, Jesus has "entered once for all into the sanctuary, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation," and He Himself has become the "holy of holies": He Himself is the sacred sanctuary in which God reposes. And He is with us. To this day He is in our presence. Do you not know that He rests in every tabernacle of every one of our churches on this earth? Do you realize the holy of holies that is in our midst? And when He is exposed upon our altar for all to adore, do you realize that here "God sits upon His holy throne"? And do you come to Him? More than a mere image or reflection of the glory of heaven, truly that transcendent glory is present in this bread the angels consume, and which is offered us here. And so, should we not "shout to God with cries of gladness" or prostrate ourselves in absolute reverence at this the presence of "the Lord, the Most High, the awesome… the great King over all the earth" here in our midst? Should we not receive Him worthily, realizing that here is the holiest of holies whom we cannot reverence too greatly, whom we cannot worship enough? "God mounts His throne amid shouts of joy; the Lord, amid trumpet blasts," and we should join in this celebration and "sing praise to our King" before the throne upon which He sits, before the Tabernacle in which He rests. Come to Him in sacred wonder. In this Sacrament He waits. May "the blood of Christ… cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God!" ******* O LORD, your Son has ascended into your presence carrying our sins and washing us clean in His own blood – how incomprehensible is your great love for us! YHWH, let us worship you, O living God, through Jesus your Son, who has entered into your sanctuary carrying all our sins that we might be cleansed of them and offer you holy praise. He is your Tabernacle in our midst. Let us come to Him and there find our healing, and there find our salvation. O LORD, your Son cares only for our salvation, not for feeding Himself. His very body He would make our food and so He offers all His life, every hour of His day, for our salvation. Never would He turn away from us or keep us waiting for your grace. Let us not fail to come to Him to find the blessing He imparts. The blood of the Christ cleanses our consciences and provides for our eternal redemption. It carries us to the Holy of Holies where you dwell, O Most High God. In awe let us sing your praise with Him who mounts His throne this day. Reign over us with your love; through the blood of your only Son may we stand unblemished in your presence.