The BreadCast

(Mi.5:1-4a; Ps.80:2-4,15-16,18-19; Heb.10:5-10; Lk.1:39-45) "Blessed is the fruit of your womb." From the womb of Bethlehem-Ephrathah, from the womb of Judah, has come forth "one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times." Now "she who is to give birth has borne"; now has our Savior come. Though He has existed from time's beginning, it is now He is made flesh in the womb of this simple virgin. "When Christ came into the world, He said; 'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.'" And so God comes in His own flesh to take away our sins. Prepared in the womb of the Immaculate Virgin, in this bright cave He is knit with sinews as we… and who could proclaim loudly enough the majesty of this humble event; who could declare in fullness the blessing of this Mother and Child? And their union is one which will save our race, as shown already in the Baptist's leap for joy in his own mother's womb. The Holy Spirit is working fully in the wombs of these mothers and in their children's flesh and blood. And so the psalmist finds answer for his prayer to God: "Rouse your power, and come to save us." For here comes "He [who] shall stand firm and shepherd His flock by the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord, His God"; here is the One whose "greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth." And so shall all who trust in Him be saved. In body He comes like a Rock upon whom our feet stand firm. In the Spirit has He been formed in His Mother's womb. And, yes, blessed is she "who believed that what was spoken to [her] by the Lord would be fulfilled"; and blessed are all those who have faith in the Son she bears. For all time meets in this moment; all prophecy speaks with one voice of the birth of this Holy One. And so, let us pray to God the Father: "Protect what your right hand has planted, the Son of Man whom you yourself made strong," that we might praise forever the glory of your presence, in the salvation you have made known. May the peace He is be with us always. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Baby Inside" from The Innocent Heart, first album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, let the Mother of our Lord come to us, too, that new life may stir in us as well. YHWH, blessed is the womb of Bethlehem, of Israel, of Mary the Mother of your Son. For in her you have prepared a body, the body of Jesus, the Word made flesh, that shall be as offering for our sins. In Him we are saved, for in Him your majesty reigns, and so your glory is now in our midst. O let us leap like John the Baptist at the approach of your Son and His Mother! Bring to life what has remained dormant for such a long time. Arouse within us the joy of new life that we might be stirred to proclaim your glory. He has come who shall shepherd us, LORD; let us be filled with the Holy Spirit. The sacrifices of old now pass away as all prophecy is fulfilled in the flesh of your only Son. And so we pray, let your will be done. Let your greatness reach to the ends of the earth and your peace reign in every heart by the power upon Jesus the Christ. O LORD, let us be consecrated to you in His holy offering.

(Sgs.2:8-14 or Zep.3:14-18; Ps.33:1-3,11-12,20-21; Lk.1:39-45) "Let me see you, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and you are lovely." "Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" – she who comes bearing the Christ child, she whose very voice magnifies the presence of the Lord. Listen to the witness of Elizabeth: "The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby stirred in my womb for joy." Mary carries the Son of God not only in her womb, but in her soul; the Spirit working within her serves to inspire him who shall go before the Lord, and so she paves the road the forerunner of Jesus shall tread. How one are mother and child! Never so evident has it been than in this passage from Holy Scripture. For Mary's voice carries the very presence of Jesus, and Elizabeth's ears convey that presence to her child. Here is that relationship of love depicted in our reading from the Song of Songs exemplified most clearly; here is the oneness of lover and beloved. And the loveliness of the lover becomes the loveliness of the beloved; the blessing of the Child becomes the blessing of the Mother – and in this love the earth brings forth its fruit. "The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance." "The Lord, your God, is in your midst," and He blesses all with His presence. He calls to your soul to come forth and know His love. "Springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills," He hastens to your side. He visits you. He visits you, speaking to your heart, calling you to arise and join Him. As Mary visits Elizabeth, "proceeding in haste into the hill country," to bring her Son to the son of Elizabeth and so producing joy in this unborn child's heart – so she brings her sweet Jesus to us this day, her voice speaking of His glory to the ears of Mother Church. And so she becomes our Mother; and so she becomes our lover, for she bears the great lover of all souls to wed Himself to us as He is so perfectly wed to her. His sweetness comes to us through His "beautiful one," causing our hearts to rejoice at the sound of her voice and leading us to sing songs of praise to His holy name. Let us raise the joyful shout to our God! ******* O LORD, in joy with Mary, help us to bring Jesus to every waiting soul. YHWH, should we not rejoice at the coming of your Son? He comes to us across the hills in the womb of His Mother: should His approach not fill us with expectation and wonder, with joy in the Holy Spirit? And should we not cry out that joy with the Baptist and his mother? She who secluded herself for five months is now in her sixth, and now your Son comes to her. And what has lain dormant within her womb springs to life at the sound of the voice of His Mother. O LORD, are we not just so in need of your Spirit to awaken in us the love that has been dormant these many days? Do we not begin to doubt your gifts to us as we long to see them fulfilled, as we sit this day in darkness? And will you not come to us in your Son, in His Mother who carries Him to our side – she who is your perfect Bride? You desire to rejoice over us, O dearest LORD and God, and so our misfortunes you take away, and so the darkness of winter you dispel. Even we who are aged in sin you find beautiful. May our loveliness match your own. May our voice be pleasing to you.

(Zep.3:14-18a; Is.12:2-6; Phil.4:4-7; Lk.3:10-18) "Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: Rejoice!" "Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!" Zephaniah exclaims. "Shout with exultation, O city of Zion"! Isaiah urges. And Paul is overwhelmed with the spirit of rejoicing. Why such joy? Whence such celebration? "The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior," Zephaniah declares. "Great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!" Isaiah proclaims. And Paul tells us simply: "The Lord is near." What could bring greater joy than such a prospect? And so we "have no further misfortune to fear." And so we should be "confident and unafraid." And so we should "have no anxiety." For the Lord will "renew [us] in His love." Our strength and [our] salvation is the Lord," and "the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard [our] hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Why should we not be joyful if He Himself "will rejoice over [us] with gladness," if because of us He sings "as one sings at festivals." Should we not match His joy poured out for our sakes and sing the song of salvation? And it is John the Baptist who hails most clearly the song of salvation coming into our midst. It is he who "preached good news to the people" with all the power of God, exhorting them to holiness that they might be gathered as "wheat into His barn." By him "the people were filled with expectation"; by him and by his pronouncement of the coming of Him who "will baptize [them] with the Holy Spirit and fire," the song of joy is ignited in their hearts. He calls us all, by the Spirit that filled Isaiah, to "give thanks to the Lord, [and] acclaim His name." It is he who "among the nations make[s] known His deeds, [who] proclaim[s] how exalted is His name." And the souls of even tax collectors and soldiers turn to him in anxious anticipation. And yes, what about us, brothers and sisters? Is the joy of Christ brimming over in our hearts, despite any situation? Do we hear the voice of the Baptist – and the prophets and the apostles – crying out His way of peace? And do we follow as the voice instructs? Indeed, the Lord is near; He is in our midst. Let us welcome Him with the purest of joy. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Head Over Heels, Turn Around" from The Innocent Heart, first album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ****** O LORD, your Son is coming and we should repent of all sin that we might be ready to rejoice and give Him praise. YHWH, the fire of the Spirit has come to us; John has proclaimed the light in our midst. Jesus, your Son, is now among us, and what should we do but rejoice? O LORD God, holy is your NAME, and holy is the One whom you send to us. So holy is He that we are not worthy to kneel at His feet. For He reflects your greatness, O LORD; His light is your own. How can we stand in your overwhelming glory, except that in Him we receive your promised mercy in our soul? What mercy you bring us this day, LORD God! What grace is ours in the word the Baptist speaks. For he proclaims the Christ come among us – he proclaims the salvation of your lowly ones. We are but your servants, LORD, unworthy to wait on your only Son. Yet you bless us with your loving mercy and invite us to perfection in Him. And so, what can we do but rejoice?

(Is.48:17-19; Ps.1:1-4,6,Jn.8:12; Mt.11:16-19) "Time will prove where wisdom lies." No doubt it lies with God. It lies with the Son of Man, come for our salvation. "I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go." Is it not our essential call to obey His Word, to listen for His voice and follow in His way? Are they not happy who hear the Word of God and keep it? Is this not wisdom, to walk in the way of our Creator, with the One who loves us above all? Does not all our misery stem from disobedience to His sacred commandments? Do we not in this way of our own making not simply lose all love in our hearts? Does this not bring our death? If we would but follow the Lord, our "prosperity would be like a river," no doubt. Our "descendants would be like the sand," for "like a tree planted near running water" we would flourish with the wisdom which comes from the font of life which is the Lord, and one would we become with all the children of His eternal kingdom. We cannot expect the Lord to dance to the tune we pipe or wail to the dirge we sing. It is the height of foolishness for the creature to attempt to impose its will on the Creator. But such is our pride, the source of our wickedness. And so, deaf, blind, and empty are we when we seek to turn the order of the universe back upon our God. For "like chaff which the wind drives away" our own foolish counsels can all but come to naught. The branch cannot grow apart from the vine, nor can the tree bear fruit without the water which gives it life. "Happy the man who… delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on His law day and night." For then the nourishing waters are upon him; then the light of wisdom fills him – then he shall bear fruit a hundredfold and never taste of death. For the Hand of God will be upon him to lead him to the eternal kingdom, where His wisdom will be proven true. ******* O LORD, let us follow your Wisdom, your Word, your way to eternal life. YHWH, let us follow in your way, in the way you call us to walk. Let us not follow in the way of the wicked, the way which vanishes, but walk with you, meditating on your Word, and we will come to life, to life everlasting with you. If we do not listen to your Word, what fools we are, O LORD! If we seek our own designs and to impose them upon you – what greater foolishness can there be? O let us recognize you as God and not ourselves! And may obedience to your voice be our salvation. John appeared neither eating nor drinking to show us the path of sacrifice that leads to you, that enables us to overcome this world and find your kingdom. Jesus ate and drank for He is of your kingdom and calls all to your table on high. O let us witness to your Wisdom at work in all things! a wisdom we cannot gainsay or deny, a wisdom we must accept to find its light. There in your Wisdom let us make our home, dear LORD, and we shall prosper unto eternity.

(Bar.5:1-9; Ps.126:1-6; Phil.1:4-6,8-11; Lk.3:1-6) "All flesh shall see the salvation of God." Yes, at a particular point in time, in the year delineated so precisely by Luke in our gospel, "the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert." The Holy Spirit whispered in his ear, set his heart on fire, and so called him to cry out the coming of the Lord upon the nation. And "John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan," calling all souls to "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins"; being thus inspired, what else could he do? The Spirit so powerfully upon him, of what else could he think? The long-awaited Savior is finally near – and the people must be ready. And so, sinful flesh is made clean in the Jordan River. And so "the rough ways [are] made smooth," "the winding roads… made straight," for nothing crooked shall meet the Messiah. We do not come to Him in sinful garb. O "Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever." Plunge yourself into the waters that make new. Let all of the old man be washed away. "For God will show all the earth your splendor; you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God's worship." "See your children gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that they are remembered by God," joyful that He has come. All the earth shall be blessed through you and the royal tree that grows in your midst. "When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming." How can it be our salvation has come? And now "God is leading Israel in joy by the light of His glory, with His mercy and justice for company." In His Church this day we dwell; into His presence ever we come. Obedient to the cry of the prophet's voice, we turn from our sins and are made anew. And now our daily bread we consume. What joy should fill our hearts, brothers and sisters! that the Lord has come to dwell with us. We eat "the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God," and the strength we find herein He will "complete" on the day of His coming again. Let our hearts be set on fire as was John's. Let us cry out to all flesh that the salvation of God is nigh. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Please Even Me Out" from Cleansing Human Frailty, fourth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, tear down the mountains of pride and fill in the valleys of fear that we might come to you on straight paths. YHWH, how shall our flesh see your salvation? How shall we come to your glory, we poor, miserable creatures? Only because you call us to redemption. Only because you desire us to share in your heavenly majesty. And only if we make straight the way for your Son to come into our hearts. O LORD, let us ever increase in knowledge of what is good and lasting, that we might be made pure and blameless for the day of Christ, that we might become as He is, blessed to be called your sons. O let us give glory and praise to you for such a blessing! Restore our fortunes, dear God; may we who have been separated from you and sent into exile be brought back to your holy City, to your mountain. As on royal thrones let us be borne aloft to gaze upon your splendor and glory, O King of all the nations. Great things you have indeed done for us, for now our weeping is turned to joy and we enter your presence bearing great fruit. Alleluia!

(Jer.33:14-16; Ps.25:4-5,8-10,14; 1Thes.3:12-4:2; Lk.21:25-28,34-36) "You are God my savior, and for you I wait all the day." So does David sing of the "just shoot" that will be raised up after him; so does he anticipate the coming of Jesus into our midst. But, though the Messiah has been born, though He has come among us now, yet the Lord will not "fulfill the promise [He] made to the house of Israel and Judah" until Jesus returns on the last day. And so, we too await our Savior. And how should we wait? Brothers and sisters, you know "how you should conduct yourselves to please God," to be found "blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His holy ones." You have been guided in His truth and instructed by the one who "teaches the humble His way." "The friendship of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and His covenant, for their instruction." And you fear Him, and so receive His instruction. Continue to do so. Continue to "increase and abound in love for one another." Let not the sum of your good works diminish in the least, but "strengthen your hearts," and what you have been doing for Him, "do so even more." Until the Day He comes your justice must increase. And "what is coming upon the world" you know as well. The end of the world is upon us and has been since Christ's crucifixion. All is passing away and shall soon be no more. The nations will look, but they will not see the things they trusted in so vainly. Only "the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory" will be known; He will be all that is seen. And will you recognize Him? And will He recognize you? Brothers and sisters, with the Lord's own words I will leave you: "Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man." Wait expectantly. 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 justice make us blameless in holiness for the return of your Son in glory. YHWH, help us to increase and abound in love even as we await the return of your Son. Though His coming be with great tribulation, let us not fear but welcome Him with open arms and heads raised to His glory. Jesus is the just shoot you have raised up for the House of Israel; He is the fulfillment of your promise to all who strive toward you. He has come and made Himself known with signs and wonders. He has walked among us to show us the way to you. Let us follow Him in humility, LORD, and we shall reign with Him on the last day. Guide us in your truth, O LORD; teach us your way. Let us remain constant on the path that leads to you, conducting ourselves as has your Son. His apostles exhort us to remain faithful at all times, to be vigilant and pray. His love will indeed increase within us, rising unto glory on the Day of judgment, if we do not turn away from His call, from His kindness upon our souls. Soon shall come the end, O LORD; let us indeed be found ready and waiting.

O brother of the Rock of our Church, you who brought him to our Lord, you who were crucified on the Cross of our Savior, who shed your blood freely for His cause… you who thirsted for His coming and welcomed Him so readily into your life – bring us also to the Messiah’s side and pray we shall receive Him as well as your brother has done; pray we, too, will abandon our boats, our moorings in this world, to follow the Christ along the way He leads, even apart from home and family. Brothers to the Son pray we become, accomplishing the Father’s will with our lives; capture us in His net this day that we too might stand in His light with all the redeemed of Israel.

(Rm.10:9-18; Ps.19:2-5; Mt.4:18-22) "How beautiful are the feet of those who announce good news!" Alleluia! We must have "faith in the heart" and "confess with [our] lips that Jesus is Lord"; but how can we believe in Him and call on Him if we have not heard of Him? "And how can [we] hear unless there is someone to preach? And how can men preach unless they are sent?" Thank the Lord that He has sent the apostles out to the ends of the earth, that "their voice has sounded over the whole earth." Where would we be without them? "Come after me and I will make you fishers of men," Jesus says to His first apostles, two brothers. And two brothers Jesus chooses after them, as if He is looking for brothers to call to emphasize our solidarity with Him and with one another. Indeed, we are family in the Lord. We are His mother and His brothers. David's psalm today speaks of Him who would be called his Son, and illustrates the work of His brothers to come. All are one in Him, through time, through space… for He who is the beginning and end truly becomes our brother. I thank God today for Andrew and his brother Peter, their brothers James and John, and all brothers and sisters in the Lord. I thank God especially for their answering His call, their readiness to respond. "They immediately abandoned their nets and became His followers." And so strong in the Lord they would become. And so clearly their words would be spoken of Him who is risen from the dead, of Him in whom our hearts trust – of Him of whom we now speak. A joy fills me this day, and should fill us all, for the beauty of the apostles and of their call. For now our ears ring with the love of our Jesus, the truth of the ages. Now through these faithful disciples we have heard "the word of Christ" and find it abiding in our souls. Let us open our mouths and proclaim Him Lord of all! Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Roger Fortney. Music by Roger Fortney; used by permission. ******* O LORD, let us follow where the apostles lead, for they follow in our Savior's footsteps. YHWH, help us to abandon our hearts, to leave our moorings in this world that we might follow your Son, that He might lead us to the shores of Heaven. And help us to preach as your apostles have preached, to speak of your salvation to all men, that indeed the message of the Gospel may reach to the ends of the earth and all souls come to believe. O LORD, Jesus has been raised from the dead – let us believe in our hearts that He lives now and confess with our lips that He is Lord, and by our faith we shall be saved and bring others to redemption. The voice of your apostles has indeed gone out to the limits of the world; all peoples are now blessed to hear your Word and so are given the opportunity to believe. May all souls turn resolutely to your Son and follow Him in His way. On the shores of Galilee first came the call from the mouth of Jesus. May He speak to our hearts, LORD, even this day, that we might leave all for your kingdom.

(Rv.20:1-4,11-21:2; Ps.84:3-6,8,Rv.21:3; Lk.21:29-33) "The heavens and the earth will pass away, but my words will not pass." Indeed John tells us of his vision that once "the former heavens and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer," he saw "new heavens and a new earth," which are, of course, founded on the Word of God, given life by the breath of His mouth alone. Yes, in the great Evangelist's vision there was "One who sat on" "a large white throne," and "the earth and the sky fled from His presence until they could no longer be seen." Even as the dead whose names are "not found inscribed in the book of the living" are "hurled into the pool the fire," even as they cannot stand before the judgment seat of the Lord, neither can this earth we walk upon or the heavens upon which we gaze, for they too have become as corrupted as their inhabitants: all that has been spoiled by sin must be cast into darkness, into eternal death. For all that is wicked must join the prince of wickedness, whom the angel of God chains up and hurls "into the abyss, which he close[s] and seal[s] over him." And any release from this dungeon is only illusory and brief, for this is the home prepared by the Word of God for him and those who serve him from the foundation of the world. But oh the wonder of the "New Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down out of heaven from God, beautiful as a bride prepared to meet her husband." It is she whom He has indeed prepared for Himself, purifying her as a precious jewel, even from the time she was first conceived in His mind, even since His breath first came upon her. And so it is our "soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord," and is not happy until it rests in His house – yes, our soul is like a sparrow which finds its home in Him, and like the swallow which in His altars makes a nest for her young. "Happy they who dwell in your house! Continually they praise you." And in our midst we see your fig tree bloom in the shoot that is your only Son, and your peace does come to reign upon us now. To nothing of this world let us hold but let all corruption pass, that your judgment we may endure, and be found worthy of new life in the Word you speak eternally. ******* O LORD, let us live in your undying Word that we might not know the second death, that we might do your will upon this earth and come to the kingdom of Heaven. YHWH, when the heavens and the earth pass away, when they flee from your holy presence, may we be found worthy to stand before your throne and make our eternal home in your House. Of the New Jerusalem let us be, our souls prepared for the return of your Son. O LORD, we yearn for you, we who are so separated from your glory, from the love that does not pass away. Open our eyes to see your coming, to recognize your presence among us even this day; and make us ready to praise you forever when this winter has passed into spring. O holy LORD, let us die in you; let us die to all the evil of this world and so be made pure as all your saints. Let us not be hurled into the pool of fire with Satan and his minions but be set free from any chain of sin and so be found clean on the coming Day. Let us conduct ourselves ever with your kingdom in mind.

(Rv.18:1-2,21-23,19:1-3,9; Ps.100:2-5; Lk.21:20-28) "These indeed will be days of retribution, when all that is written must be fulfilled." The destruction of the world and the coming of the kingdom is our clear theme today. It is what is written. It is what must be fulfilled. "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!" that "dwelling place for demons," cries out an angel by whose authority and glory "all the earth was lighted up." He calls down the destruction of the evil empire that is the city of this world. And the "assembly in heaven" sing loudly, "He has condemned the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her harlotry," exulting in the salvation and glory and might of the One God, whose "judgments are true and just!" For though "the blood of His servants… was shed by her hand," "the great city" is "hurled… into the sea" like "a huge millstone," "cast down" with such "violence" that it shall never rise again. And so, "happy are they who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lord," who sing "Alleluia!" to the great and wonderful presence of our God in the kingdom that is to come. And in our gospel Jesus warns of the coming destruction of the city of Jerusalem, and of the final destruction of the earth. Yes, "Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles." Indeed its "devastation is near," a mere thirty-five years from the death of the Lord. But the devastation of Jerusalem will last beyond its destruction by Rome, by the whore of Babylon, around 70 A.D. – it will continue "until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled," until the nations' drinking of the cup of evil to its dregs, and the consequent end of this world brought about by the mighty hand of God. And so the blood of His servants continues to be shed, even as the kingdom is on the horizon. "Those in the heart of the city must escape it." Here is a grave warning. You must rise from the mire of the sin into which the world leads you. For "the powers in the heavens will be shaken"; the walls of the city will be torn down, and you will be exposed and alone. "Flee to the mountains" of holiness; take refuge in "the country," where the Lord pastures His sheep. Do not give yourself to the ways of this world or the mark of the beast – lust not for the gold in its hands. For she is "a cage for every filthy and disgusting bird"; though the appearance may be otherwise, though the cage may be gilded, the horror within shall be revealed in the last days. Brothers and sisters, we must find ourselves standing with those who "sing joyfully to the Lord," who "enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise." On the last day we must not fear "the roaring of the sea and the waves" because of our complicity with evil, but "stand up straight and raise our heads," ready for our ransom to come at the hands of our Lord. Let His goodness which "endures forever" be fulfilled in our souls. (With arms open upon the cross, we shall find our song.) ******* O LORD, as the great city of this earth is destroyed by fire, let us be welcomed into your kingdom by your Son. YHWH, in you and in your Son our ransom is near at hand, ransom from this world of corruption, ransom to the wedding feast of the Lamb. Your saints have shed their blood at the hands of the great harlot, but never again shall she sing her mocking song – all evil will be silenced before you as you gather your sheep into your arms. Though by the nations your people be trampled, though great signs come in a bloodstained sky and a roaring sea… though it seem like the end has come upon us, it is only the beginning of your reign to come. O LORD, may we let this world pass away in its iniquity as we join ourselves to you! Into your gates with thanksgiving let us come, O LORD; in your courts let us praise your NAME. Let us raise our heads to see your Son coming, even as the earth and its wickedness pass entirely away.