The BreadCast

(Acts 1:12-14; Ps.27:1,4,7-8,13; 1Pt.4:13-16; Jn.17:1-11a) "One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life." Obedient to the instructions of the Lord, the apostles returned to Jerusalem, where they gathered together in "the upper room" and "devoted themselves with one accord to prayer," waiting for the promised gift of the Spirit of God. With David they long to "gaze on the loveliness of the Lord and contemplate His temple," and so, with him they sing, "Of you my heart speaks, you my glance seeks." The Pentecost is soon to come; the Spirit shall soon fall upon the apostles and fulfill their longing for union with God. But as they wait, they suffer, as do we all, for waiting means to suffer – finding patience is to share in the passion of Christ, in the absolute subjection of our wills to the Father and so the death of our own ways. But Peter's words come as comfort to us as we ourselves wait for the glory of God to come to us: "Beloved: Rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when His glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly." He knows of what he speaks. For his patient waiting, his dying to self, has been rewarded by the gift of the Spirit now with him as he speaks… and each day his continued suffering brings renewed joy. He is able to sing with full voice the words of David's psalm: "The Lord is my life's refuge; of whom should I be afraid?" And to such fullness of the glory of God we all should come. In our gospel Jesus calls down the glory of the Father upon Himself and so, in turn, upon all who love Him, that He may "give eternal life to all [the Father] gave Him." As the Son has glorified the Father on earth, now He seeks to be glorified by Him in heaven, and not for His own sake, but for the benefit of those who listen as He prays to His Father. In our midst He prays for us that the power of the Holy Spirit might make us one with Him as He is one with the Father, that we might share in the glory of God. "Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ." "Out of the world" He calls us, away from its darkness He brings us, that "in the world" we may be, sharing His glory with all… so to find eternal life, so to find ourselves in the hand of God, in His Temple, gazing always upon the light of His face. Alleluia! Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "There Is No End to Life" (second part) from Thoroughfare, seventh album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, if we remain devoted to prayer and to carrying the Cross, we shall rejoice forever in your House. YHWH, how we wait for your glory. How we pray we shall be ready to receive the fullness of your gift from on high. The Spirit promised your chosen ones be upon us this day to lead us to the glory of your Temple. O LORD, give us light that we might see, that we might gaze on your loveliness, that we might contemplate your presence. To eternal life let us come. Through the persecutions of this world, through our sharing in the Cross of the Christ, let your Spirit rest upon us and we be joined to your glory. It is Jesus' desire that we be joined to Him, that we be with Him in your glory. He prays for us as we pray for your Spirit to come and anoint us with that glory. Hear our prayers, O LORD. May Mary and all your holy apostles pray for us as well, that together our prayers might rise unto you and we rise with them to eternal life.

(Acts 18:23-28; Ps.47:2-3,8-10; Jn.16:23-28) "He went about establishing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah." In our gospel today, Jesus again assures the disciples, "Whatever you ask the Father, He will give you in my name," He tells them of the time when He will no longer speak to them "in veiled language," but "shall tell [them] about the Father in plain speech." A most fascinating quote is His statement, "I do not say that I will petition the Father for you." So great is our oneness with Jesus because we "have believed that [He] came from God," that now as He returns to the Father, we go there with Him; and since we are thus with the Father through Him, He need not ask for us of the Father, but we ask ourselves. When Jesus declares, "The Father already loves you, because you have loved me," He is telling us that we are indeed one with Him in the Father's love, and so, of course, the Father hears all our prayers. In our reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear of Apollos, who was "a man full of spiritual fervor. He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus." His love for the Lord is most evident in His "express[ing] himself fearlessly in the synagogue," in his "vigorous" preaching of Jesus as the Messiah. He also shows himself to be a humble man, very acquiescent to Priscilla and Aquila, who "took him home and explained to him God's new way in greater detail." As strong as he was, and as much as "he greatly strengthened those who through God's favor had become believers," he was very willing to learn of his weakness. And so he becomes a model of faith and of the oneness with God we find in the Spirit through the love of Christ. And so his words are like prayers which never fall short of the glory of God. And so the Father answers all he has in his heart. "He is supreme," brothers and sisters. The Lord Jesus now sits on the throne of God in the highest heavens. And we who believe in Him become one with Him, and so, one with the Father of all. And thus do we find all our prayers answered; thus do we find all our work blessed. Thus do we find ourselves moving as one with the will of God by the love the Father shares with all of us through our faith in His Son. As great as Apollos and Paul and all the apostles are, we can be, if we but believe that Jesus is God and so share in the Father's love, and so hear the Holy Spirit speaking plainly to our hearts. ******* O LORD, Jesus is your Christ; He reigns with you over all the nations – thank you for sending Him to us that we might be united to you. YHWH, you are King of all the earth, reigning in highest Heaven, and Jesus is the Messiah you send, one with you and born for us that we might be one with both of you through the power of the Holy Spirit. As your Son returns to you, He brings us with Himself; insofar as we love Him and believe in Him, you love us and so unite us with yourself. What can we say of so great a gift but, Alleluia! Praise you, LORD! May the Name of your Son be preached with zeal to all towns, to every soul that longs for salvation, that none shall be left without instruction but all realize the glory to which we are called in you. With you, O Most High God, may we be joined by the grace found in your Son. All we desire may we ask for this day in the Name of your Son. And so, O LORD, all shall be as you desire – all will be gathered together as your children.

O farmer of God's green earth who cultivated the faith even as you cultivated the ground, whose simple and humble life should serve as inspiration to all toiling on this plane – pray that we shall follow your example, sharing our food with the hungry as we work for the salvation of souls. Pray that all the work we do will bear fruit in God's kingdom, that with you and your wife we may be found worthy of those blessed words come from our Savior's mouth: "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into your Master's joy." Pray according to your own blessing from the Lord that this earth He has given us to care for may be saved from the greedy hands of corrupted man and serve as source of nourishment for all.

(Acts 18:9-18; Ps.47:2-8; Jn.16:20-23) "Go on speaking and do not be silenced, for I am with you." As Paul continues his missionary journey, his fears are calmed by the Lord, who assures him: "No one will attack you or harm you," though he be in Corinth, whose infamous immorality is illustrated in the riotous behavior of the Jews in its court, and to which the court "paid no attention at all." And the Lord is true to His word, protecting Paul throughout his year-and-a-half stay, and keeping him even from having to defend himself from charges in today's first reading. In our gospel Jesus reassures the disciples at the Last Supper, as He is about to leave them and their hearts begin to be troubled: "You will grieve for a time, but your grief will be turned into joy." And though there remains ever a measure of grief in our hearts as we labor in this world, our bodies apart from the fullness of the grace of heaven, yet we know that Jesus' promise has indeed been kept in His sending His Spirit upon the apostles from His heavenly kingdom. It is, of course, this Holy Spirit who inspires and guides and protects Paul, making his missionary work fruitful, for he does all having been baptized by the fire of Christ. And, of course, the disciples to whom Jesus speaks today will soon have no more fear, for Pentecost is not far from them. Pentecost is not far from any of us, brothers and sisters. The promised Spirit is come into the world to answer all questions, to calm all our anxieties. As we wait these nine days to celebrate this great feast of the Church, as we prepare again to enter into its birth in the Spirit of God, let us be assured that the Lord's promise remains: "You are sad for a time, but I shall see you again; then your hearts will rejoice with a joy no one can take from you." No one can take from us the promised joy we now hold in our hearts and which is renewed in this season. As Paul is emboldened even through his most difficult trials, as the apostles rejoice at their persecutions for Jesus' sake, so we should know that the Lord "brings people under us, nations under our feet"; and so, as powerful as the world may seem in all its brazen immorality, yet we are assured that "He chooses for us our inheritance, the glory of Jacob, whom He loves." "There are many of [His] people in this city," here where we dwell on earth, and we must speak to them of the Lord's glory, His love strengthening us for every task. It is He who accomplishes all in us, and so He will guide and guard our way. ******* O LORD, give us reassurance of your presence with us, now and until the end of time. YHWH, soon our hearts shall rejoice at the return of your Son and our union with you in Heaven forever. But now your Spirit is with us reassuring us of the fulfillment of this promise and guiding and protecting us along the way. We can accomplish all the tasks you set before us because of the glory that is among us even this day in our Advocate from on high. O LORD, though there is cause for us to weep and mourn in these days we remain apart from complete unity with you, we are strengthened as we wait by the knowledge that Jesus is yet present with us in the Spirit He sends. Let us take refuge in this gift and, as we wait now again for its outpouring in a few days, let us remember your faithfulness to us and our destiny to praise you forever in your eternal kingdom. O you who sit upon the throne, shine your light upon us this day.

O chosen apostle, destined to serve the Church as witness to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, you who walked with Him from the beginning even until He was taken from our sight yet were not appointed by the Spirit as one of the Twelve until a place was made desolate by the traitorous one – pray that the call upon the soul of all God's children will be fulfilled according to His will and we all shall come to be witnesses to Jesus and His eternal glory wrought in our midst by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let none shy away from the Lord but assume their rightful place in His presence.

(Acts 1:15-17,20-26; Ps.113:1-8; Jn.15:9-17) "It was I who chose you to go forth and bear fruit." Since "the saying in Scripture uttered long ago by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David was destined to be fulfilled in Judas" and he "went the way he was destined to go," now the word of the Lord must be accomplished: "May another take his office." And though "Peter stood up in the center of the brothers" and declared the need expressed in Scripture, and though the one hundred and twenty brothers gathered together "nominated two," the prayer of the disciples, as well as their actions, makes clear by whom Matthias is chosen: "O Lord, you read the hearts of men. Make known to us which of these two you choose for this apostolic ministry." As Judas is destined for perdition, so Matthias is chosen by the Lord to take his place, for all is indeed in the hands of God. And what loving hands these are, brothers and sisters; and what loving hands all His disciples are called to employ. The words of the Lord in today's gospel breathe the very love of God upon His apostles. "Love one another as I have loved you" is His command to them. "Live on in my love." Our "fruit must endure," and it can only endure, we can only bear fruit, sharing in the love of Father and Son. For then the Holy Spirit is upon us, who brings all to life. And the way in which we share in divine love the Lord makes clear as well: "There is no greater love than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." And it is this laying down of his life to which Matthias is called today; and it is the same service in His name that makes us all friends of Jesus. "From the rising to the setting of the sun is the name of the Lord to be praised," for indeed "high above all nations is the Lord; above the heavens is His glory." His ways are certainly far above our own, and it is His ways to which we must come, obediently following His command, His command to love. Today He reaches down and "raises the lowly from the dust… to seat [Matthias] with princes, with the princes of His people." Today His choice is made of who will follow the Son. None but He knows the ones He chooses, the way we must walk, for none is "like the Lord, our God, who is enthroned on high and looks upon the heavens and the earth below"; and our joy is made complete only in going forth as He leads, for, simply put, none can compare with His love. Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Carie Fortney. Music By Carie Fortney; used by permission. ******* O LORD, you choose those whom you send forth – let us live in your love. YHWH, help us to love one another as your Son has loved us that we shall live ever in His love and bear fruit in His Name. May we take our place with Him and all His apostles in your kingdom this day. O LORD, as you chose Matthias to take the place of Judas, to sit with your princes, so let us know that we, too, are chosen by you to do your will in this world as the friends of Jesus. We take no honor unto ourselves but all honor you bestow upon those you call to your side. The greatest honor you would give to all – to be formed in the image of your Son. Let us be faithful to that call, O LORD; let us give you due honor, you who are enthroned on high, far above heaven and earth. We are but dust, dear God, but you sit above all Creation, and this dust you would raise up to dwell in your eternal presence. In all your children let your will be done. Let us give witness to your Son's resurrection and so join Him at your side.

(Acts 1:1-11; Ps.47:1-3,6-9; Eph.1:17-23 or Eph.4:1-13 or Heb.9:24-28,10:19-23; Mt.28:16-20 or Mk.16:15-20 or Lk.24:46-53) "God mounts His throne amid shouts of joy; the Lord, amid trumpet blasts." Three events are the subject of today's readings. The key of these is certainly the Lord's ascending into heaven and taking His place at the right hand of the Father. Without this the other two could not follow. And so we celebrate the Lord's Ascension in particular; but we also hear of the coming Pentecost and the apostles' call to go forth to the ends of the world. "As they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him from their sight." Now He goes to heaven, returning to the Father, as He has said, to enter into glory. And as He has asked, we should be joyful, we should "shout to God with cries of gladness. For the Lord, the Most High, the awesome, is the great King over all the earth," and now Jesus, our Savior and our brother, is with Him, and so brings us to Him. His glory becomes our own, and so His now assuming His throne in heaven should cause us to "sing hymns of praise" to Him who now "reigns over the nations." And from His place seated "at the right hand of God" "upon His holy throne," the Lord keeps "the promise of the Father about which [we] have heard [Him] speak." For "in a few days [we] will be baptized with the Holy Spirit"; Pentecost will be here, and Jesus' words to His disciples as He prepares to ascend will be our own: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you." It is from this Holy Spirit that the Church takes its strength, through whom we are all made one in "faith and knowledge of the Son of God," and by whom we attain to "the full stature of Christ." He it is who inspires all, and He could not come except that our high priest has entered the sanctuary of heaven – opening for us the way to enter there – and from there delivered unto us the grace which through Him comes. And what does this inspiration, this absolute strength we take in the Spirit call us to do but to heed the Lord's words and "go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature," knowing as He has said, "I am with you always, until the end of the age"? And so, apostles and prophets and evangelists and all His children go forth empowered by His Spirit that "hearts [may] be enlightened," that all might know "the hope that belongs to His call… the riches of glory in His inheritance… and what is the surpassing greatness of His power" – that all might believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus is now seated at the Father's right hand in heaven, "far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come." All things are "beneath His feet," for "King of all the earth is God," and Jesus is God. But though the Son has joined the Father, remember He is with us always, suffering with us still and bringing us to His side by the power of His Spirit. Wait now on His Word. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "There Is No End to Life" (1st half) from Thoroughfare, seventh album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, may the cloud which took Jesus from our sight soon bring Him back to us and keep Him with us forever. YHWH, your Son mounts His throne of glory, He ascends to you in Heaven, drawing us up into your presence and giving us the power to proclaim your glory and baptize all in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit – with you, O God, let us be made one! And let us go, O LORD, even to the ends of the earth, your Son working through us by the power of the Spirit upon us. As we wait now for your promise to fall upon us and be fulfilled in us, let us with faith set our hearts on your surpassing presence. From the bonds of this earth let us be freed, that by the power of the Spirit we might indeed join Jesus at your right hand. O let thy kingdom come! Soon your Son shall return to us and we will sing in unending joy. But even now we are the Body of Christ, united with Him in Heaven. O LORD, send your Spirit forth that we might find the strength to call all souls unto your glory.

O marvelous Wonder, O Lady who shines like the sun, who brings the Light into our midst and calls us to repentance that we might be saved, that the whole world might turn to the Lord and be preserved from destruction… you come at the end of the age to lead us back to your Son before He comes again and finally – pray we shall hear and heed your warning to our souls and, with the faith of the children whose eyes beheld you, offer ourselves in union with the Cross of Jesus for the salvation of all and the renewal of the Church and the world.

(Acts 17:15,22-18:1; Ps.148:1-2,11-14,Is.6:3; Jn.16:12-15) "It is He 'who gives' to all life and 'breath' and everything else." "His majesty is above earth and heaven," brothers and sisters. And so our psalmist today encourages all in the heavens and all on earth to "praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted." "From one stock He made every nation of mankind to dwell on the face of the earth," and it is "in Him we live and move and have our being." And so should we, "His faithful ones," not offer Him praise? Brothers, be not ignorant as the men of Athens who thought "the God who made the world and 'all that is in it,' the Lord of heaven and earth," as "something like a statue of gold or silver or stone, a product of man's genius and his art." Could man with all his intelligence make the sun or wind? Then how can it be that he might contrive the Creator of these? Such groping in darkness for the God who is "not really far from any of us" shall not be tolerated forever. For the time has come to turn on the lamp which lights the room and let all shadows flee. He who is going to "judge the world with justice" is among us now; it is He whom God "has endorsed in the sight of all by raising Him from the dead." And it is faith in Him to which we must come. Jesus promises the disciples that "the Spirit of truth… will guide [them] to all truth." It is He who "will not speak on His own, but will speak only what He hears." He receives from Jesus, who possesses "all that the Father has," all that He announces to us. And Paul is His mouthpiece today, speaking not what he has invented by his erudite learning and fanciful imagining, but rather proclaiming the truth he hears the Spirit inspiring in his soul and burning in his heart. We shall not get to heaven on stairs we make with our soiled hands; they cannot but crumble under the pressure of time and the weight of truth. Only by obedience to the Spirit who inspires all, shall all find the presence of the "God Unknown" to hearts of stone and minds as fleeting as a wisp of smoke. "He calls on all men everywhere to reform their lives," for their scoffing at truth shall bring them alone to a dark room, where there shall be no breath of the Spirit. But we who know all wisdom comes from God, living in its light are made His children. ******* O LORD, may we know your glory in the Word announced to us by the Spirit Jesus sends. YHWH, the light of wisdom you alone shine by the Spirit of Truth come through your Son. You are exalted above earth and Heaven, and we cannot approach you by our minds or the work of our hands – only by faith will we come to know your surpassing glory. O LORD, let your glory be announced to all that all might praise you in whom we live and move and have our being, that all might thus come to know themselves by realizing we are your offspring. If we do not see you, how blind we remain to everything, hopelessly groping in the dark for truth and light. We cannot make truth, we cannot make you, for it is you who have made us. May we heed your call to reform our lives, dear LORD, that we might come to understanding, that guided by the Spirit we might come to faith in you and praise your Name forever with all your children in the heavenly kingdom.

O child of courage, though but a boy you gave your life as the strongest of men, proving thus your love for Christ, a love that steels souls even in the face of death, even in the youthful breast – if but a young child like yourself could die so freely for the faith and show the face of Jesus to the whole world, how much more should we, so graced by the Lord with years of devotion, be ready to give for the name of God? Pray your innocence may renew our hearts and your strength fortify our commitment to give our lives for Christ and His Church.