The BreadCast

jameshkurt@gmail.com
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Spirit-filled daily reflections on the Mass Readings of the Roman Catholic Church from the book Our Daily Bread by James Kurt (with imprimatur). The daily podcasts are voice only, while the podcasts for Sundays and Solemnities are produced with music and other elements. Another podcast recently added: Prayers to the Saints - a prayer to each saint on the calendar for the US. Also with imprimatur.

  1. 23m ago

    July 23 - Thursday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II

    (Jer.2:1-3,7-8,12-13; Ps.36:6-11; Mt.13:10-17) "They look but do not see, they listen but do not hear or understand." Oh how "sacred to the Lord was Israel, the first fruits of His harvest." And oh how they loved the Lord "as a bride," following Him so closely. But oh how they have forgotten "the devotion of their youth" and turned from Him. For when He "brought [them] into the garden lands to eat its goodly fruits," they did not seek Him from whom all their blessings flowed, but rather "entered and defiled [His] land," and "made [His] heritage loathsome." So blindly "they have forsaken [the Lord], the source of living waters [and] have dug themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that hold no water." And so, how empty of life they have become. And so Jesus echoes Isaiah's prophecy upon the people today, declaring it now fulfilled: "Listen as you will, you shall not understand, look intently as you will, you shall not see." Though the Son of God stand before them, though their blessing is complete in their midst, strain as they might they cannot see what is so obvious – for "sluggish indeed is this people's heart." Too long have they turned their sights away from Him, and now what shall refresh their vision? Should they not sing with David of the Lord's glory – "How precious is your kindness, O God!" Should they not "take refuge in the shadow of [His] wings?" Does He not spread them above them this day? In Jesus should they not "have their fill of the prime gifts of [His] house"; does the Lord not "give them to drink" from this "delightful stream"? Then why are their mouths closed to receiving this precious gift offered upon His altar? Is He not the holy sacrifice of the covenant renewed? Is it not so that in drinking His blood all find life? Is He not the source of living water? O Lord, "with you is the fountain of life, and in your light we see light." Awaken our hearts to see your face; let us "turn back to [you]" that you may "heal [us]." For you are Light and Life itself, and all our blessings flow from you and from your Body and Blood offered for our sakes. In your Son may we find again our home; may our hearts be open to understand your love present in our midst. ******* O LORD, let us be blessed to hear your word of forgiveness, we who have blinded ourselves to your good gifts. YHWH, you are the fountain of life, the source of living water; in you we find all blessings. You provide for all our needs, planting us in a garden land filled with good fruits. You make us as your holy Bride – such is your love for your faithful child. But we are not faithful to you, O LORD. We do not drink from the fountain of living water but dig for ourselves broken cisterns, the creation of our soiled hands, of our wayward hearts and minds. And so our soul languishes in a foreign land. How shall you heal our blindness, LORD? How shall our ears open to your Word? How shall we return to you and find again your blessing? Your kindness knows no bounds and so you send your Son among us. To His teaching let us be obedient; let our hearts open before Him that we might be redeemed. How blessed are we to have the living God in our midst, His face shining upon us, His voice speaking to our hearts… O LORD, take not your Son from us, but let us be healed by His presence.

  2. 1d ago

    July 22 - Prayer to St. Mary Magdalene

    O woman of great love whose heart burned with desire for the Lord, whose soul thirsted for the living God… the tears you cried became the source of the greatest joy as from your sins the Christ released you, as your eyes beheld your blessed Teacher – pray for us this day, O Mary, that our hearts shall be set aflame with faith and love as we hear the news you bring us: that our Lord is no longer in the tomb, that He lives and so we with Him, that He is ascending to the Father and we shall join Him there. O pray His love dispel the coldness of our hearts that we shall be like you, remaining with Him forever.

  3. 1d ago

    July 22 - St. Mary Magdalene

    (Sg.3:1-4 or 2Cor.5:14-17; Ps.63:2-6,8-9; Jn.20:1-2,11-18) "Whom are you looking for?" Let us stand with Mary Magdalene at the tomb of our risen Lord. Let us weep a little that our hearts might bleed with her same love, and so our eyes be opened to see Jesus standing before us. Let us hear Him call us by name. O let us search night and day for our God, thirsting for Him "like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water." Let us know that without Him we are lost in darkness, empty as the tomb. May it be "the love of Christ [that] impels us" further outside of ourselves and toward the Lord, allowing nothing to impede our progress as we pass every watchman, as we leave even our senses behind to become one with our lover, partaking of "the riches of [His] banquet." Let us "regard no one according to the flesh anymore," not even the Christ, but release His body from our grasp that He might ascend to Heaven and we follow in His wake. A "new creation" let us be with a heart burning with love, a love that transcends all the world and discovers our Lord within. In the shadow of [His] wings [we] shout for joy," declaring His glory to all, for He looks upon our tears, upon every heart longing for His presence, and our desire He does not disappoint. Written, read, and produced by James Kurt. Music - "Cry Mercy," from Remove the Mask of Lies, second album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt.

  4. 1d ago

    July 21 - Prayer to St. Lawrence of Brindisi

    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.

  5. 2d ago

    July 21 - Tuesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II

    (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.

  6. 2d ago

    July 20 - Prayer to St. Apollinaris

    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.

  7. 3d ago

    July 20 - Monday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II

    (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.

  8. 4d ago

    July 19 - Sunday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

    (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. 96 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} 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.

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Spirit-filled daily reflections on the Mass Readings of the Roman Catholic Church from the book Our Daily Bread by James Kurt (with imprimatur). The daily podcasts are voice only, while the podcasts for Sundays and Solemnities are produced with music and other elements. Another podcast recently added: Prayers to the Saints - a prayer to each saint on the calendar for the US. Also with imprimatur.

Information

  • Creator
    jameshkurt@gmail.com
  • Years Active
    2007 - 2026
  • Episodes
    879
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © James Kurt
  • Show Website
    The BreadCast