The BreadCast

O great preacher of the Word of God, you who were entrusted with this angelic office to bring light to Christian minds and dispel the darkness of sin and error – pray all souls this day may be blessed with hearing the Word of God you spoke so well, that all hearts might turn in faith to the Lord purged by its cleansing fire. O blessed teacher, pray men of every tongue be told of the truth, that all might live by the Spirit of God in grace, that the renewal of the Church and every soul might be made complete and the ranks of the New Jerusalem be filled to overflowing.

(Mic.7:14-15,18-20; Ps.85:2-8; Mt.12:46-50) "Then extending His hands to His disciples, He said, 'There are my mother and my brothers.'" The Lord's blessing rests upon all who worship Him in spirit and in truth, and it comes to us primarily through the forgiveness of our sins. For the Lord extends His hands to His disciples first of all to "cast into the depths of the sea all our sins." This is His principal work, He whose name means "God saves." And by such compassion poured upon us, by His "treading underfoot our guilt," we are drawn into His holy fold; we become "the flock of His inheritance" by the death that brings us life. "Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of His inheritance?" Who indeed is like Jesus? For He dies and we live. He washes us clean of sin, and we become His children. Though we deserve His "burning anger," He abandons not us but "[His] displeasure against us." He "does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency," a clemency that not only forgives but redeems – for Jesus also extends His hands to His disciples to gather them into the Father's arms. "You have favored, O Lord, your land; you have restored the well-being of Jacob. You have forgiven the guilt of your people; you have covered all their sins." How shall we thank you, Lord, who "grant us our salvation"? How shall we praise you, Lord, whose "kindness" has made us your own? "Shall not your people rejoice in you?" Will we not sing of your glory forever? Will we not stand in your presence and serve you for all ages to come? "You have withdrawn all your wrath." You "will again have compassion on us." In you we take refuge always, as your blessed daughters and sons. O Mother in heaven, pray for us, that children of the Lord we shall ever remain, doing the will of the Father as thou hast done. ******* O LORD, could you be kinder than to make us your own flesh and blood? YHWH, shepherd your people; make us as your Son's brothers and sisters – make us as His Mother. Forgive us our sins that we might be gathered into your outstretched arms. How kind you are to us, dear LORD, how compassionate. Who could imagine such a love as makes us one with God Himself? Who could have believed you would send your only Son, your very self, into our midst to save us and make us your inheritance? Your kindness is unsurpassable – no greater gift could we find. Be not angry with us for our sins this day, O LORD, but grant us your mercy as you do for all your children who turn to you. Make us your disciples, truly brothers and sisters of Jesus, one with the Blessed Mother and all the saints. Into your kingdom let us come; let us pasture on your holy mountain. How blessed are we when your anger is passed, dear LORD. Let us be your flock, living in your peace even this day.

O suffering shepherd severely persecuted for your work of evangelization, you ever continued to preach the faith and convert multitudes despite all the tortures the ravenous beasts of this earth could muster; a true apostle you proved to be, martyred even as Christ's Twelve – how shall we find a measure of your conviction, of your persistence in spreading the Gospel of the Lord? Pray for us, blessed shepherd, that we who are weak of will and so fearful of the slightest disturbance to our comfort and ease shall learn by God's grace to give our lives as freely as you in the service of man's salvation.

(Mic.6:1-4,6-8; Ps.50:5-6,8-9,16-17,21,23; Mt.12:38-42) "The Lord has a plea against His people, and He enters into trial with Israel." "God Himself is the judge," brothers and sisters. And so He declares: "Gather my faithful ones before me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice." All are brought before His throne, and all must "present [their] plea" in His presence. And what shall we say on that Day? Will you "come before Him with holocausts, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriad streams of oil?" Hear His word to His people: it is not these the Lord desires. It is not the sacrifices offered in the temple built by human hands the Lord seeks of His chosen ones. The temple He has destroyed, and with it the vain works of the flesh. It is now the Lord's desire that you but "walk humbly with your God." And so He promises: "To Him that goes the right way I will show the saving power of God," and proclaims, "He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me." Oh how we should praise Him! He who is "greater than Jonah" and "greater than Solomon." Oh how we should repent and reform our lives at His preaching! Oh how we should walk in the light of His wisdom! But are we not too often like those who offer vain sacrifice and seek to have our eyes impressed by some extraordinary sign? The sign stands before us. But all too often we are as faithless and blind as the scribes and Pharisees in our gospel today. What a terrible thought that we might be condemned for our lack of faith by the "citizens of Nineveh" and "the queen of the South," who needed so little, really, to believe in the greatness of the Lord. Has He not "brought [us] up from the land of Egypt"? Has He not released us from "the place of slavery"? Why do we so soon forget what the ancients knew by much less? Is not Jesus in our midst this day? Let us not be blind to His presence, and let us not offer our sacrifice unworthily. For here before us stands the Lord of all; into our souls and bodies we receive Him by Word and by Sacrament. All He asks of us is our faith. And will we believe Him? Or is our worship only on the tongue and not burning in our heart? Let Him not find you faithless this day. ******* O LORD, teach us your way of humility; let us seek only to be as you. YHWH, how can we seek a sign from you when it is we who should be offering a sign to you, and more than a sign – our very lives. For your Son comes to us bringing salvation to our souls and teaching us the way to find it; should we not repent of our sin, rend our hearts before Him, and praise you for your mercy this day? But we have not faith, LORD, and so we come only with vain sacrifices, mere words on our lips and a heart seeking our own will to be done. We would create you – but it is you who have created us! You have created us and you would redeem us, and so you enter into trial with us to see if we shall merit your love. Bring our sins up before our eyes, that by your grace we might turn from them and walk humbly with you. Why should we even need your Son to be buried in the earth, LORD? Should our faith not recognize you before us without such a sign? Ah, but we are blind, so blind. Discipline us in your love that we might reform our lives and find the way to you.

(Ws.12:13,16-19; Ps.86:5-6,9-10,15-16; Rom.8:26-27; Mt.13:24-43) "First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn." Such are the Lord's instructions to the harvesters, His angels that come "at the end of the age," when "just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire," so will "all who cause others to sin and all evildoers" be thrown "into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father." "Whoever has ears ought to hear." Though the Lord is a God "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity"; though He is "good and forgiving… attend[ing] to the sound of [our] pleading" and "permit[ting] repentance for our sins" – though while the grass grows He is patient and waits for the weeds which have been sown to turn to Him, yet the time of harvest shall come: the time to judge the living and the dead. And so it is that the One who is "lenient toward all" shall reveal to all that indeed He does "show [His] might when the perfection of [His] power is disbelieved." The obstinate of heart shall not remain forever; sin must be burnt with fire, and so those who cling to it and its sower, the evil one. There is time. There is time and He who has "the cure of all" reveals indeed that "the just must be kind." But the end presses on; it is upon us. And the time and lenience granted those who toil vainly for the evil one will but serve to prove their deserving of the Lord's inevitable justice. They will but harden themselves further, to their own perfection of sin, meriting in the end the undeniable punishment of the loving and just One. And the same is true of the just themselves. The time given by our gracious God, though it seem troublesome for the weeds of sin that prick our hearts, is but a means of proving, is but a refinement of the perfection of our God's love within us. And so we must be patient as the tree does grow, acceptant of the pains it brings. And so we must but watch as the leaven rises, and we with it come to Christ. Yes, "the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit." Take confidence in this. Just as the Lord knows the path to perdition the wicked sow within their souls, so He knows clearly the hope we have for heaven. And all shall reach their perfection in Him. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Salvation Army" from Bearing the Birth Pangs, tenth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, in your greatness have mercy on our souls and let us grow unto your kingdom. YHWH, you are all good and all powerful, holding all the world in your loving hand; yet though you are kind and desire the repentance of every soul, your justice and love call for the punishment of evil. Your angels shall go out at the end of the age and they shall do your holy will, gathering your just ones into your kingdom but burning with fire those who cause others to sin. This is but right, LORD; this is but kindness itself – that like should go to like and so the desire of hearts be fulfilled. Indeed, let those who set their hearts on evil come to evil, and those who set their hearts on you come to good. You are patient, LORD; you give us time that we might grow to the perfection set for our lives. No soul is plucked up before his time – none comes to his end without opportunity to change his life. For you are gracious, you are kind, and your power you use for mercy's sake. Let us turn to you this day and find the fire of your Spirit at work in our hearts.

O servant of the sick whose compassionate heart melted at the sight of every suffering soul, who constantly visited Christ as He lay in hospital… how deep was your charity, how complete your love and dedication to the poor – pray that we too shall leave the cares of the world behind and have only concern for serving Christ and our fellow man; pray the hard hearts of this age will be saved by the Lord's grace even as they look upon Him in the face of those in need. How shall we match your stature, which was so like Jesus' own; how shall we find perfect charity, taking the Lord into our homes? Pray our hearts be set on Him alone.

(Mic.2:1-5; Ps.10:1-4,7-8,12,14; Mt.12:14-21) "When the Pharisees were outside they began to plot against Jesus to find a way to destroy Him." Is it not of these David sings when he declares, "He lurks in ambush near the villages; in hiding he murders the innocent; his eyes spy upon the unfortunate"? And though He withdraw from them this day, though He will silently subject Himself to torture and death at their hands, be assured that the Lord is "planning against this race an evil from which [they] shall not withdraw [their] necks." "Woe to those who plan iniquity, and work out evil on their couches." And what greater woe can there be than for the one who plots disaster upon the head of the Chosen One? These are they who would "cheat [the] owner of his house, a man of his inheritance"; for here is the One of whom Isaiah prophesies in the name of the Lord: "Here is my servant whom I have chosen, my loved one in whom I delight." Yet by "cursing, guile, and deceit" these would steal the inheritance of the only Son. But the Lord shall not "stand aloof" forever, and over these soon "shall be sung… a plaintive chant: 'Our ruin is complete, our fields are portioned out among our captors.'" What the Lord has promised He has accomplished in wresting the House of God from the disobedient and placing it in the hands of His children of light. Now the Lord does "proclaim justice to the Gentiles." And we who suffer with Him, we "the afflicted, who are caught in the devices the wicked has contrived," rejoice in the knowledge that "judgment is made victorious" in Him – "on [Him] the unfortunate man depends," and his fortunes are made prosperous as the Lord's own. "'There is no God,' sums up his thoughts," the evil one who turns from the Lord. But the One they kill is God Himself, whose patient endurance of their crown of thorns shall bring the wicked to ruin. Caught in their own snares, "misery and sorrow" shall be theirs forever, even as the Lord and His anointed find release from the plots of men and are gathered into the kingdom of heaven. The beast is slain by a word from His mouth, opened on that Day; though silent now His redeeming Word goes forth to the ends of the earth, setting free all suffering prisoners. ******* O LORD, we find our hope in you, for you save the poor and afflicted soul even as you destroy his wicked tormentors. YHWH, look upon the afflicted who are pursued as was your Son; you see our misery and sorrow – save us from the plottings of men. The greedy and deceitful you will thwart, O LORD. The violent you will destroy. You will save your poor ones who cry out to you; the plans of the wicked will not succeed. Though your Son is captured by their snares, though the hands of men take hold of His body and nail it to the Cross, they will find, O LORD, they cannot touch His Spirit, and that Spirit will bring them to ruin. On the third day He rises from the dead, LORD, and so we shall rise with Him. Though trodden down and deprived of our earthly possessions, yet forever we shall live in the riches of Heaven. Silently let your Word go forth now, LORD, calling all to repentance and healing. All you give opportunity to turn to you – crush us not till we know your mercy upon our souls.

(Is.38:1-8,21-22; Is.38:10-12,16-17; Mt.12:1-8) "Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord." "When Hezekiah was mortally ill, the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came and said to him: 'Thus says the Lord: Put your house in order, for you are about to die.'" When the Jewish race was about to perish for lack of love, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to the Pharisees and declared, "It is mercy I desire and not sacrifice." And if they heed not His word, they indeed shall die. But will what occurred "in those days" with the king of Judah recur with these leaders of the Jews? Will they, too, turn their face to the wall and cry out to the Lord? For there is a greater threat than "the hand of the king of Assyria" upon their race now. Here is a greater threat than death. The condemnation they cast so freely upon "innocent men" now begins to overshadow their souls. "To the gates of the netherworld I shall be consigned for the rest of my years," Hezekiah cries out; and indeed his fears shall be realized in these. For they "shall see no more the Lord in the land of the living" if they refuse to see Him here as He stands before them. They shall know no longer the mercy that sustains all life if they harden their hearts to Him who holds that mercy in His flesh and blood. The Lord seeks to open their eyes and their hearts to the power and love of God. By their own Scripture and history and law He proves their judgment wrong, asking, "Have you not read what David did when he and his men were hungry…? Have you not read in the law how the priests on temple duty can break the sabbath without incurring guilt?" But yet would they condemn King David and the temple priests, placing their own judgment over the law of the love of God. I fear for them, brothers and sisters, as for all who are obstinate of heart. For here are the chosen of God. Here are those graced with the Lord's promise. But what shall become of their blessing if they reject the Promise when He stands before them? What shall become of those who turn the grace of God to empty wind? Oh how their bones shall rot! Oh how the fears of Hezekiah shall be fulfilled! Oh that they could hear the words the Lord speaks to His repentant king: "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you." Oh that they would know the mercy of God. To Him may all come, for He who stops the sun and moves it back upon its course indeed holds all in His loving hands. The Temple of the Lord is here. ******* O LORD, you raise us up from death, from condemnation for our sins, for you are the LORD our God. YHWH, have mercy on our poor, judgmental souls, for we have come close to death because of our sins, for the lack of mercy we have shown. But you are not like us, for you have pity on those who cry out to you, on those who hunger for your food – hear us as we cry to you this day for your forgiveness upon our souls, that even this day we might live in your sight. Our sins would have cut off our life, LORD; our disobedience but brings us to the nether world. But Jesus is Son of Man and God like you and He walks amongst us as your mercy, seeking to redeem our fallen souls from the grave we have made by our transgressions. And He brings us new life. O LORD, let the days be turned back that we might make amends for our past sins, that we might have years to reform our lives and set our house in order for your Son's return. If you had not mercy upon us, we would already be dead, doomed by our disobedience. But remember us and make us faithful and wholehearted in your sight; feed us with the Bread of life.

O Mother of contemplation who heard the Word of God and kept it, pondering its wonder in your heart, you who were so faithful to His call and remain ever in His presence – how shall we know our Lord if you do not pray for us, if you do not intercede for souls so blinded by the distractions and temptations of a fallen world? Our prayers are with you, dear Mother, who pray as one with our dear Lord, who are so one with Him in body and soul, who stand at His side this day in the kingdom of Heaven… There on His holy mountain help us to make our home.

(Is.26:7-9,12,16-19; Ps.102:13-21; Mt.11:28-30) "The Lord looked down from His holy height, from heaven He beheld the earth, To hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those doomed to die." Yes, "we cried out in anguish under [His] chastising. As a woman about to give birth… we conceived and writhed in pain, giving birth to wind." Empty were our works; dead in sin were we. But the Lord took pity on His people. Though "oppressed by [His] punishment" and as prisoners in chains, the time arrived for Him to "arise and have mercy on Zion." And so He sent His Son. "My soul yearns for you in the night, yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you." Because even in death His faithful set their hearts on Him and make Him the "desire of [their] souls," He comes. "He has regarded the prayer of the destitute, and not despised their prayer." Though afflicted by sin, the Lord looks upon our tears; and His heart breaks with ours, and the light walks among us… and Jesus comes. And Jesus comes. Hear the words of our Lord: "Your souls will find rest." He promises us His peace. Though heavy burdened with the weight of this dark world, He is here to save us. How do we find such peace? How do we find release from the prison in which we are confined? Heed His instruction; "take [His] yoke upon your shoulders and learn from [Him]." And what is this yoke in which you will find your freedom? It is nothing else but the cross. The Lord has looked down from heaven; He has sent His Son forth from His throne. And what does He come bearing "to release those doomed to die"? Yes, it is a cross He carries. Our sins and our pain He takes upon Himself. Only through this instrument of salvation, only through the flesh of Christ fastened to the wood – only by the nails which pierce His hands and feet are we brought life. For He cries with us in anguish: He dies with us in pain. And the Lord's pity is realized, the mercy of God fulfilled… and washed are we in this blood from sin, and our cry thus taken away. And we must do the same as He. We must die, too. We must unite ourselves to His cross, and let Him take all pain from our souls. And so we shall be whole. And so the cry shall be no more. And so we shall never die. "Awake and sing, you who lie in the dust," for your "corpses shall arise." ******* O LORD, we were doomed to die but you heard our cry and sent your Son to save us by His Cross – let us share in His mercy this day. YHWH, have mercy on Zion, on your children who cry out to you in the night, in the night that is our life in this world. Regard the prayer of your poor ones; look down from your holy height and have pity on us. Send your Son to save us from our pain, from our sin, by the grace of the Cross He bears. We have given birth to wind, O LORD. In vanity we have lived our lives. But we look to you to redeem us from such emptiness, from the darkness which besets our hearts. You bring peace to us; your Son grants us the salvation we could not achieve on our own. O let us take up His gentle yoke that we might find rest for our souls. Thank you for your mercy, Jesus, for coming among us in gentleness and humility and carrying our burden of pride away. Let us come to you now, as you call us; let us find the refreshment you offer in your Cross. Upon our shoulders let us take your light burden, that we might know your judgment is removed from us in the sacrifice you have made.