The BreadCast

(Gal.5:18-25;   Ps.1:1-4,6,Jn.8:12;   Lk.11:42-46)   “Since we live by the spirit, let us follow the spirit’s lead.”   “Happy the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent”; these indeed follow not the spirit’s lead but the dictates of the flesh.  And all their “licentiousness” and “drunkenness,” all their “hostilities” and “envy,” shall but lead to their doom.  For “those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!”  When they die – as already they are dead – the grave alone shall be their home, with the tortures that are found there.  But “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires” and so know the “fruit of the spirit” and not the flesh.  “Love, joy, peace” and all the precious gifts are theirs in this life, and shall remain with them forever.  The Spirit leads us to such blessing. As for the Pharisees in our gospel today, they prove themselves children of the flesh and not the spirit, for though they “pay tithes on mint and rue and all the garden plants,” though they are so careful about the details of the letter of the law, their worship is in vain for they do all “while neglecting justice and the love of God,” thus tearing out the very heart of the law of God they presume to follow.  And so their path is the one which leads but to the grave.  They clearly are even now dead, “like hidden tombs over which men walk unawares.”  Here are “the insolent” the just must avoid.  Here are those who build pretense of holiness but have nothing of the spirit inside.  And so their decaying souls shall crumble from within, and “like chaff which the wind drives away,” so shall their remains be scattered like dust by the truth of the Spirit, which exposes and destroys all lies. “The way of the wicked vanishes,” brothers and sisters.  It cannot stand, for there is no foundation, there is no truth on which it rests.  It is but empty, illusory, passing.  But we who claim to be sons and daughters of the living God, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ and following the lead of the Holy Spirit, must have nothing to do with the fruits of this way.  Our worship must be true, must be genuine, must be that in which the flesh is crucified and the spirit allowed to breathe, that none of us will be crushed under the burden of sin but all be set free to walk in liberty now and forever.   ******* O LORD, let us not be counted among the wicked but have your love and your truth burning in our souls. YHWH, let our worship be genuine, let our hearts be set on love of you.  Let us follow the Spirit’s lead; your way of truth be our own this day.  Meditating on your Law, let us live it and bear its fruit. Apart from you let us never be, O LORD, never separated from your love.  Crucified let our passions be, that we shall share in new life with your only Son.  Your joy and peace be with us always; keep us forever from jealousy and outbursts of rage.  In the Spirit let us make our home, never turning to what comes of the flesh. Far from the paths of the wicked please keep us, LORD, that we shall not live our lives in vain; day and night let us think of you, and we shall be ever blessed.  O that we might bear your fruit all our days, that our leaves might never fade…  Keep us always close to you by your chastising word of truth.  Then the water of your Spirit will nourish us well and our sin will be known no more.

(Gal.5:1-6;   Ps.119:41,43-45,47-48;   Lk.11:37-41)   “Any of you who seek your justification in the law have severed yourselves from Christ and fallen from God’s favor!”   Brothers and sisters, “it is in the Spirit that we eagerly await the justification we hope for, and only faith can yield it.”  The works prescribed under the testament of old have had their day and their time is passed.  Circumcision, the central act of the law, along with the temple and its sacrifices, has been rendered useless.  Physically there may yet be benefit to this practice, and so it is employed widely, but spiritually it is now without merit.  All that is of the old law has been subsumed by the new, and to set our hearts on what is now dead will leave us but as empty and dead ourselves. Now there is baptism in the name of the Lord.  Now there is Jesus and His Body, the Church.  Now there is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  With these in our midst all else pales, for these are set upon the Rock of eternal life; these are founded in the Spirit which does not pass, nor can be destroyed – and these are known only by faith.  Truly, “in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor the lack of it counts for anything; only faith, which expresses itself in love.”  Now that love has overcome the law, now that it has fulfilled it, why should we be concerned with the cutting of flesh?  It is our hearts that must be circumcised. What is inside is what matters.  Jesus has said this repeatedly and He declares it again today to the Pharisee who is so preoccupied with physical washing, with the need to “cleanse the outside of the cup and dish.”  This is slavery!  Indeed it is born of an attachment to the things of this earth and places our neck under its yoke.  If we do not “give what [we] have as alms,” if we do not open our hearts to love of the Lord and love of neighbor, all the scouring of our skin will be utterly useless – in this way we shall never touch our souls.  We must have love, we must have faith, and do the outside things only as necessary. “Let your kindness come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise.”  Though I am no longer under the law of old, yet I see how weak I am, how reliant on the works of faith, and how ignorant and blind to your presence I can become.  And so I pray that you “take not the word of truth from my mouth.”  I pray you enter my house and recline at my table, and that my heart will be set on love of you above all… and that all things else will but serve this love.  Let me not fall from your favor, from your love.   ******* O LORD, help us to cleanse the inside of the cup that by faith and love we shall come to new life in the Spirit. YHWH, you call us to love what is within, where you live, where you make your home.  But we are distracted by what is without, so shallow is our vision.  Help us to see as you see, to desire what is in your heart.  Then truly we shall be set free to walk as your sons. O living God, your love instill within our souls; your truth alone let us speak.  Let us not be concerned with the works of the law, with the cutting of flesh and the washing of hands, but with the accomplishment of your will.  And so, to save ourselves from such empty worship, let us give all things to you. If we had but faith, O LORD, then our vision would be clear, our hearts would be set on you alone, and all things would be ours.  Let us but seek our salvation in the keeping of your Word, and you will care for all else.  Make us clean in your sight!

(Gal.4:22-24,26-27,31-5:1;   Ps.113:1-7;   Lk.11:29-32)   “At the judgment, the citizens of Nineveh will rise along with the present generation, and they will condemn it.”   Paul’s words to the Galatians today sound much like a parable: “Abraham had two sons, one by the slave girl, the other by his freeborn wife.”  He himself states pointedly, “All this is clearly an allegory: the two women stand for the two covenants.”  But though Hagar may be seen as the mother of all “children [born] to slavery” and Sarah may be compared to “the Jerusalem on high,” which is free, the allegorical significance notwithstanding, both Hagar and Sarah were flesh and blood human beings who walked the face of the earth along with the father of their children, Abraham.  So, though the life of anyone may be seen in an allegorical light, it does not mean the life itself is but an allegory. And yet the scholars of our day would turn the life of Jonah into a mere allegory – as they would, it seems, with Jesus.  They say that Jonah did not exist, that the book written of him is but a story, a parable.  And so they say that the Lord would compare Himself to a parabolic figure: “Just as Jonah was a sign for the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be a sign for the present age.”  And so they say we will be judged by fictional characters. The Lord’s words remain ever true: “This is an evil age.”  It is given a sign, the greatest of signs, and it denies it.  It seeks further sign with a heart only to deny once more.  Why?  Because it has no faith.  And without faith one cannot reason; without faith one can see nothing.  Truth remains ever hidden from one’s eyes.  And so those with empty minds stumble blindly through their theorems, the products of a diseased imagination.  And so those without faith seek at every turn to tear down the faith, which ever eludes their clawing grasp.  But they shall be judged.  What shock will be theirs when the ones they have sought so vainly to make into fictional characters stand before them to condemn them to death.  Perhaps then they will see.  Perhaps then there will be an end to “the yoke of slavery” they would place upon the “freeborn” children of God. Beware the faithless soul, dear children.  Remember only, “From the rising to the setting of the sun is the name of the Lord to be praised.”  Indeed, “high above the nations is the Lord; above the heavens is His glory,” and He shall lift you “lowly from the dust” to be with Him.  As He tears down those who exalt themselves and reveals their children to be so vain, then He will bring your fruits to light and you will bear many.  The works of all will be exposed on that Day.  ******* O LORD, how great you are and how great is your gift to us, for your Son has freed us to walk with Him – let us repent at His word. YHWH, we are your freeborn children for whom your Son has died; in Him we find new life.  In the blood of Jesus is found the New Covenant, a covenant which unites us with you in glory. Praise you, LORD, for such a great gift!  Thank you for the grace that comes to us, your once wayward sons.  Though we have been barren of children, empty of any fruit as we wandered far from you outside the walls of Jerusalem, yet you have looked upon us with mercy and called us to your side.  Help us to reform our lives that the fullness of your gracious gift might be known to us on the Day your Son returns to judge all souls. Yes, LORD, the lowly ones you raise from the dust to sit with you in heavenly places, to know your great blessings in the kingdom on high.  Free our souls to praise you for your glory.  Set free from slavery to sin we shall share in the joy of the New Jerusalem and declare your wonders forever.

(Gal.3:22-29;   Ps.105:2-8;   Lk.11:27-28)   “Each of you is a son of God because of your faith in Christ Jesus.”   Praise God!  “Glory in His holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord!”  For He has come among us.  Born of the womb of Israel, the Messiah is in our midst.  And so we should “sing to Him, sing His praise, proclaim all His wondrous deeds.”  For now by faith in Him we live, and are truly blest. Brothers and sisters, “before faith came we were under the restraint of the law… the law was our monitor until Christ came to bring about our justification through faith.”  Under the law we lived in sin, for who could fulfill all the demands of the law?  “But now that faith is here, we are no longer in the monitor’s charge.”  We have found One who has fulfilled the demands of the law, and who is perfect in the eyes of God; and He makes us as Himself, as sons of the living God!  And so what can we do but rejoice.  We “who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have clothed [our]selves with Him.”  And so we stand naked to the world no more.  And so we hide no longer from the sight of God, for our sin before Him has been taken away, and with it the law. Listen attentively to the preaching of Paul, that “there does not exist among [us] Jew or Greek,” that it is faith in the Lord that saves us all.  It is the same lesson Jesus teaches in our gospel today.  For “the womb that bore you” refers to Israel; it is the breasts of the Chosen that have given Him suck, that have nourished Him well – it is of them He comes.  But not for this is the people blest; we cannot boast of our heritage.  Rather, we shall be judged worthy of blessing only by how well we “hear the word of God and keep it,” as our Blessed Mother has done in preeminent fashion.  She, as Paul, does not boast in her Jewish upbringing.  She knows that it is not even for her great work of bearing the Son of God that she found favor with Him.  Rather, all favor, the highest favor and grace, comes to her for the love she bears Him and the service she performs eternally in His Name… for her absolute faith. We must “seek to serve Him constantly” as does our Blessed Mother, as does our Mother, the Church, in faith.  Then truly we shall be “descendants of Abraham, His servants, sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!”  And we shall rejoice to see His Day. ******* O LORD, may we hear your Word and keep it in faith, like Abraham, like Mary, that we might inherit eternal life in Jesus your Son. YHWH, because of our faith in your Son, we become as your children, indeed, as He is before you.  You bless all who come to you through Jesus, all who do your will.  And what should we do but rejoice for such grace, for this wonder you perform in our midst. It is Israel that bore your Son; at Mary’s breast He did suck.  But it is not for this the nation is blessed, nor she who carried Him in her womb.  It is your people’s obedience you seek, and so any may become as your Chosen by listening to your Word and keeping it in their hearts.  As Mary let us be, LORD, giving you our lives. All of faith are descendants of Abraham.  All are blessed who are baptized in Christ.  He it is who justifies us in your sight, LORD, and makes us sons of the Most High.  Glory to you for the grace upon our souls in Jesus’ Name.

(Gal.3:7-14;   Ps.111:1-6;   Lk.11:15-26)   “All who believe are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”   But those who do not believe cannot be called “sons of Abraham,” in whom “all nations shall be blessed,” for they have not the faith of the father of many nations.  For those who do not proclaim the Lord’s “renown for His wondrous deeds,” but rather say of His “gracious and merciful” acts: “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that He casts out devils,” there is only a curse.  They curse themselves and scatter their own salvation to the winds by the evil thoughts of their hearts.  “The reign of God is upon” them, and they say it has come from hell.  Have such as these faith?  Have they even eyes in their head?  Then how shall they be saved?  How shall they be called Abraham’s children?  Rather, the devils will return to them “to find [their] house swept and tidied,” prepared by the emptiness of their hypocrisy for these to take up eternal residence there. “He has given food to those who fear Him…  He has made known to His people the power of His works.”  All those of faith see that this is the Messiah and “give thanks to the Lord with all [their] heart in the company and assembly of the just.”  All these are blessed.  They live in a house guarded by “a strong man fully armed,” and their “possessions go undisturbed.”  For the devil cannot break into the house of God, and he has no key to enter; but the Lord breaks down the doors of the evil one and all his weapons are removed from his hands.  And so we are free…  We are free because the Lord has redeemed us, and in His house we are protected from sin. Brothers and sisters, the Savior has been “hanged on a tree… that through Christ Jesus the blessing bestowed on Abraham might descend on the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, thereby making it possible for us to receive the promised Spirit through faith.”  This faith itself is redemptive.  In this faith is the blood of Christ.  It is this blood which fills our hearts and makes room there for the Holy Spirit to come in.  There no devils can enter, for our doorposts have been anointed by Him.  And so, what can such souls dwelling in this house of faith do but sing out with our psalmist, “Great are the works of the Lord, exquisite in all their delights”?  What can we do but declare His “majesty and glory” as we see that “His justice endures forever” and His justice is founded in love?  For by our faith He has made us whole; we who once grumbled against Him are now sons of Abraham.  He has taken all our sin away, and it shall not return again.   ******* O LORD, your power is only for good; let your Spirit be with us this day through faith, that we might be saved. YHWH, if we have not faith, we have nothing but emptiness, and thus make a place for the devils to dwell.  But if we have faith in you, your Spirit fills us, and into your house we do come.  Make us temples of your Holy Spirit! Your Son has died, O LORD, that we might have life, that we might be set free from the course sin has wrought upon our souls and enter into your kingdom as your blessed children.  Why should we not believe in your love for us?  Why do we doubt the salvation you provide through your Son? Let us rather rejoice in your glory, LORD, in your goodness to us.  Let us sing your praise with all the strength of our souls, thanking you with all our hearts in the assembly of your holy ones, among your saints in Heaven.  To such glory you do call us, away from the darkness of this place…  Let us but have faith in you and we shall be as your sons.