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. 5h ago

    November 2 - All Souls

    (Wis.3:1-9; Ps.23:1-6; 1Cor.15:51-57; Jn.6:37-40 Note: there are any number of readings possible for this day) "The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them." Is this not what it means to be a Christian? To have faith in the resurrection from the dead. To believe that after our time of trial there shall be peace, that we shall be refined by the hand of God to stand in His presence, to share in His kingship. "Grace and mercy are with His holy ones, and His care is with His elect." This is our faith. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." And so we have no fear. The Lord watches over us and guides our path, and in His blessing we take refuge, knowing we shall come to be with Him, knowing He is with us even this day, knowing even death we shall conquer in His Name. "I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come." Nothing shall remove us from His presence. "We shall not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed." Indeed, though all die, all shall come to life. None can remain as they are; all must be changed. All that is mortal must take on immortality, and in this immortality, in this incorruptibility we gain, death is swallowed up – it is no more. "Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." It is an eternal victory. "Everything that the Father gives me will come to me." It cannot be that the Father's will not be done. Jesus awaits us with open arms. He has gone before us, He has prepared a place for us, and we must but come to Him as drawn by the will of the Father. "Everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I shall raise Him up on the last day." Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ! Death is not our realm, brothers and sisters. Though it comes to us all, it is but a passageway into Heaven, it is but the Lord's means of preparing us for the kingdom. And so, whether we experience it today or tomorrow or yesterday is of no consequence. It is there. It shall come to us all. But all who believe are preserved from its clutches and drawn into the life the Father offers. Let us pray this day for all holy souls to come by the Son into the hands of the Father. Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Carie Fortney. Music by Carie Fortney; used by permission. ******* O LORD, help us find victory over death in Jesus, your Son, and so come to dwell with you forever. YHWH, though we walk through the dark valley, we fear no evil – for you are at our side. Though death close its mouth upon us, we remain courageous, for your Son has given us victory over sin and death by His sacrifice on the Cross; and as we take refuge in Him, we are raised to dwell with you in eternal life. Let all souls be raised to your side with Him! Where in this world can we turn where there is not sin, where there is not darkness, where there is not death? O LORD, it is so, that this world is clothed with corruption, with mortality. All is now doomed to die for the sin that besets Creation. But where does the grace of your Son not penetrate? To whom would He not bring new life? And what need we but faith in Him to find that life dwelling in us even this day? Soon the end will come – the end of sin and the end of death. Let us not die with death, LORD, but find the victory you desire to impart to all souls through your Son. May your goodness and kindness follow us all our days and lead us to your eternal kingdom. May all who have died be at your side.

  2. 23h ago

    November 1 - Prayer to All Saints

    O God's holy ones, His apostles and martyrs, His virgins and confessors, all who have borne witness to Him with your lives, who have washed your robes in His blood, whose hands are clean in His sight and so are clothed in white, all you who have suffered under the Cross in the flesh in this world and so now stand in His light in the Spirit before His throne in Heaven… O all holy ones of the Lord from every age, from every time and place; from every nation you come, speaking in every tongue of His undying love – please, pray for us, His pilgrim children!

  3. 1d ago

    November 1 - All Saints

    (Rv.7:2-4,9-14; Ps.24:1-6; 1Jn.3:1-3; Mt.5:1-12) "Everyone who has this hope based on Him makes himself pure, as He is pure." All our readings speak of this purity this holy day. In the first reading we hear of the saints who "have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Our psalm tells us it is "one whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean," who stands in God's presence. The above quote is from our second reading, and Jesus tells us in our gospel, "Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God." Indeed, this purity of heart is the essential characteristic possessed by all the saints in heaven; and so we must strive to achieve it. I note a striking parallel particularly between our first reading from Revelation and David's psalm: the reading begins with the image of the four angels (at the four corners of the universe) being prevented from their call "to damage the land and the sea" until the seal of God is placed upon the foreheads of the "one hundred and forty-four thousand [symbolizing absolute fullness in number] marked from every tribe of Israel"; and our psalm begins by proclaiming, "The Lord's are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it." The reading continues with John's "vision of a great multitude" who "stood before the throne and the Lamb" in their white robes; while, as it continues, our psalm tells us that only the pure of heart "can ascend the mountain of the Lord" or "stand in His holy place." Then the reading from Revelation cries out, "Salvation comes from our God" and exclaims of the blessings upon the Lord and so His faithful; and David's psalm concludes that it is he who seeks Him who "shall receive a blessing from the Lord, a reward from God his savior." What does all this tell us but what John states quite simply in his letter, our second reading: "Beloved, we are God's children now," and that when "what we shall be… is revealed we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." Yes, we are anointed by Him as His own creation and shall come to stand in His presence with all the angels and saints, proclaiming the blessing He is and the salvation He has provided us. And in our gospel Jesus climbs the mountain and sits and teaches those who gather around Him. And how blessed are these eyes that see Him! How blessed are these ears that hear Him! And how blessed are we, too, insofar as we hear Him this holy day as He calls to our hearts to have faith in Him and in the kingdom of heaven, to set our hearts on the hope of which He speaks. And blessed are we most when we suffer insult and persecution for the sake of the Lord, for by this we are purified, and through this "our reward will be great in heaven." For we must die in Him before we rise in Him with all the saints in glory. Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Roger Fortney. Music by Roger Fortney; used by permission. ******* O LORD, let us be made pure as you are pure, as your saints have been made pure in the blood of the Lamb. YHWH, let us seek you with all our hearts, that we may find you and share in your glory with all the saints in Heaven. Help us to wash our robes clean, that they may be white, that we may be pure and so able to stand in your light. Make us your children, O LORD, blessed to dwell in your sight forever. If we must be purified by persecution in this world, what should that matter to us, LORD; why should that cause us concern? We should rejoice in this blessing even as we rejoice in the blessing of Heaven, for does not one lead to the other – do we not find Heaven even here, even now, in our suffering with your Son? But give us your love, LORD, and all shall be cause for celebration for us. O how we long to worship you in your kingdom, LORD! How we long to bow before your throne with all your angels and saints. How we long to sing your praise with them. Let it be so, LORD. Let it be so even this day in our souls.

  4. 1d ago

    October 31 - Saturday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II

    (Phil.1:18-26; Ps.42:2-3,5; Lk.14:1,7-11) "When you are invited by someone to a wedding party, do not sit in the place of honor in case some greater dignitary has been invited." At the feast of the marriage of Christ to mankind, we are the lesser party, and must act humbly before our God. Jesus comes among us as a guest to eat a meal in our house; He humbles Himself to sit at our table. And this guest who sits in the lowest place among us is in fact the Host of the banquet of which all are invited to partake. Though the Lamb that is slaughtered for all to eat, He the sacrifice rules at the altar of our worship. Listen carefully to what Paul says to his beloved Philippians; see how his own attitude mirrors that of the humble Christ, and how it must be imitated by us all. He says quite openly, "I long to be freed from this life and to be with Christ, for that is the far better thing." In the choice of living or dying, he would opt for the latter, "for, to [him], 'life' means Christ; hence dying is so much gain." As the psalmist sings in comparing his soul to "the hind [that] longs for the running waters": "When shall I go and behold the face of God?" When shall he know full union with the Lord? Only in death, the dawn of perfect day. But though "strongly attracted" to death, Paul has equal attraction to life, and accepts that he must "go on living in the flesh" for the "productive toil" it means; and so he will "persevere with [his disciples], for [their] joy and [their] progress in the faith." He will remain "with the throng" that he might lead them "in procession to the house of God… amid loud cries of joy and thanksgiving," though he himself is already prepared to enter the festival gates. Do you not see how this attitude is as Christ's own? Would not the Lord Jesus have preferred to remain in the heavenly kingdom with the Father? Would this not have been better for Him by far? And yet He comes among us, and yet He remains with us. And yet He takes on flesh which is as the cross itself and bears it with all patience for our benefit. He gains nothing by sitting with us at table as a dishonored guest, but we gain life eternal as we eat the Bread He feeds us. And so, listen to the Lord's teaching. Pray that "when your Host approaches you He will say, 'My friend, come up higher.'" Let His sweet words of humility and sacrifice be in your ears and in your heart – and upon your lips, lived through your body – that with Paul you will "have full confidence that now as always Christ will be exalted through" your own humility; then you will find the same "conviction that this will turn out to [your] salvation." If here you sacrifice your life, at the wedding party of our Lord and our souls you will be given your due place of honor at table in the kingdom. ******* 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";} O LORD, may the humility of Jesus be proclaimed to all who wish to see your face. YHWH, help us to be your humble servants, coming to others as a slave, as your Son, concerned only for the welfare of your flock, even as the Apostle Paul. How shall we have the Spirit of Christ within us? How shall we set our hearts on seeking your face and helping others progress in the faith? Let us not care if we live or die, but only that your NAME goes forth. To your House let us come, O LORD; at your table let us sit. The lowest place let us take, for this is the place we deserve. It is only by your grace we come to the table at all, and so, how can we boast of anything? Your Son is the exalted guest among us – let us give place to Him in all things. Call us higher, dear LORD. Call us to your side. Without your call we shall be lost, scrambling blindly for adulation on this empty earth. O let us rejoice as we enter your presence!

  5. 2d ago

    October 30 - Friday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II

    (Phil.1:1-11; Ps.111:1-6; Lk.14:1-6) "My prayer is that your love may more and more abound." Paul's prayer is addressed to the Philippians, who "have all continually helped promote the Gospel from the very first day" he came into their midst preaching. He overflows with love for them himself and finds them present "to a man" sharing in his "gracious lot," even as he "lie[s] in prison" far from their land. And so he prays that always "with a clear conscience and blameless conduct [they] may learn to value the things that really matter," and is confident that "He who has begun the good work in [them] will carry it through to completion, right up to the day of Christ Jesus." And Jesus' prayer for the Pharisees is really the same. Though they treat Him as Paul has so often been treated, though He is "summoned to defend the solid grounds on which the Gospel rests" before eyes that observe "Him closely" for any misstep upon which they could capitalize – yet His desire for them is the love of God; yet He would teach them of the ways of the Lord Most High, who cares at every moment for the well-being of even His smallest creatures. Thus does He ask them, "If one of you has a son or an ox and he falls into a pit, will he not immediately rescue him on the sabbath day?" to open their eyes to the innate concern they have for those in their care, that they might see the love of God for all. And though they are not like the Philippians, though they do not accept His word with joy and put it into practice immediately, there may come a time when they will listen, when at least some of them will hear and follow His teaching. "Majesty and glory are His work, and His justice endures forever." This is what every heart must proclaim of the "wondrous deeds" of God. It is not only Paul's wish but the wish of the Lord Himself that all of us "may be found rich in the harvest of justice which Jesus Christ has ripened," which He has brought to maturity in His blood, in His love. "He has given food to those who fear Him"; this food of love is for all who reverence God to share. More and more it should abound in our midst, even as it does in all our churches and on all our altars this day. Alleluia! ******* O LORD, your love extends to all and is undying – help us to share more and more in that love with your Son. YHWH, may your love abound throughout the world and we abound in it. May your glory be known in all your works, through all holy souls the Gospel go forth. We give you thanks, O LORD, we give you praise. For your love is endless and it looks upon every creature with abiding care. In your presence and by the ministry of your Son, we are saved – let us stand in the light of your holy Day! You give food to all who love you, LORD; you heal every soul that comes humbly to you. Let us appear before you with a clear conscience and blameless conduct. Your will be fulfilled in all our lives. Wondrous are your deeds, O LORD; majesty and glory are yours alone. But you desire to share your gifts with your children, continually calling us to dwell in your love. 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";} Rescue us from all sin this day, LORD, from the hardness of our hearts, that we might be among the assembly of the just come to full maturity in your Son.

  6. 3d ago

    October 29 - Thursday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II

    (Eph.6:10-20; Ps.144:1-2,9-10; Lk.13:31-35) "Today and tomorrow I cast out devils and perform cures, and on the third day my purpose is accomplished." "Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war," King David sings, for the Lord is the "shield… who subdues peoples under [him]"; He is the "stronghold" by whom "victory" is his. The same image of battle is used by Paul as he encourages us, "Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil." But "our battle ultimately is not against human forces" – in war against nations or even any individual enemy – "but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in the regions above." It is spiritual warfare we engage in, and in it we must "pray constantly and attentively for all in the holy company," for the attacks against us are constant and we must ever with our brothers and sisters resist the evil one and "stand [our] ground." Heed Paul's summary of the strength we must draw from the Lord for our mission: "Stand fast, with the truth as the belt around your waist, justice as your breastplate, and zeal to propagate the gospel of peace as your footgear." Does not the Lord do just this? Does He not witness fully to the courage we must have in the battle of earthly life? For though the Pharisees come with the warning, "Leave this place! Herod is trying to kill you," Jesus "proceed[s] on course" in firm resolve. Though "Jerusalem… slay the prophets and stone those who are sent to [her]," yet the Lord's face is set like flint to enter there. In every step along the way, on every day that leads there, He conquers the devil valiantly, displaying His great power over all darkness of this world by His Word of truth; and when He comes to the cross the war will have been won – the evil one will have no weapon remaining. 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";} "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord." Blessed is Jesus the Christ, and blessed all those who follow in His way, who fight unto death the evils that beset us here. Brothers and sisters, faith in God will deflect all "the fiery darts of the evil one." "The helmet of salvation" will protect you from all harm; and by "the sword of the Spirit, the word of God," you shall conquer mightily with the Lord. "Pray in the Spirit." Pray always. Pray for the Church militant that she proclaim the Gospel and come quickly to the Lord's salvation. ******* O LORD, we bless your NAME and we are strong; we are ready for battle against all evil. YHWH, give us strength in the battle of earthly life, strength to overcome the attacks of the enemy, strength to stand with you on the holy day. You are our strength; you are our deliverer. You save us from all harm by your invincible power and glory – let us indeed stand strong in battle on this earth, that we may come quickly to Heaven. Your Word go forth, O LORD, to the ends of the earth, your Word of truth, your Word of life. The sword of the Spirit be in our hands, upon our tongues, that we shall defeat all the forces of the evil one. Let us be ever in prayer before you, ever calling upon your holy NAME. And we shall be saved, and we shall save others by the grace that you give to do battle this day. 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";} With your Son let us cast out devils, LORD; let us serve to cure the troubled soul of man. Blessed is He who comes in the NAME of the LORD! Let us be blessed to follow Him on the way to Jerusalem, on the way to the Cross – for on the third day He shall rise.

  7. 4d ago

    October 28 - Prayer to Sts. Simon and Jude

    O zealous and loving apostles, to the ends of the earth you brought the Word of the Lord; calling sinners to repentance, seeking healing for all souls, you carried the light of Christ to all the world – pray we shall match your zeal for the Gospel; pray we serve to impart the mercy of God unto life everlasting for all children of the Lord. May the power and glory upon you in the name of Jesus Christ build up His Temple in forgiveness and love this day that soon all will be one with Him and with you in Heaven.

  8. 5d ago

    October 28 - Sts. Simon and Jude

    (Eph.2:19-22; Ps.19:2-5; Lk.6:12-16) "You are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." And whom is this building founded upon but our Lord Jesus Christ; He is the cornerstone by which the apostles and prophets are set in place, and we are built upon this firm foundation, all integrated as one "holy temple in the Lord." This Church is "the dwelling place for God in the Spirit." Alleluia! Oh that blessed night Jesus spent "in communion with God"! Praise God for the mountain on which He prayed! For that night, in that place, in these prayers was conceived the foundation stones of His holy temple: in the Spirit that night the essential structure of the Church was given birth in the names of these poor apostles, these simple human beings. And at daybreak He called them forth by name. Upon them His favor rested. And though one "turned traitor" and had to be replaced, yet here are the pillars on which the Church rests. And to this day their descendants, their blessed successors remain with us, holding up the Church despite their frailties – yes, the power of the Spirit continues to go forth from their call. "Day pours out the word to day, and night to night imparts knowledge." Nothing can stem the passage of this Word to the ends of the earth, for it is founded in the silent communion with God. Who can touch this silence? Who can tear down this oneness in the presence of God? No one can hold the wind in his hands and no one can restrain the power of the Spirit. It indeed goes forth. Yes, "the whole structure" continues to be "fitted together" in the Lord's Name, and no persecution can stop its growth, can prevent its inevitable coming to fullness in the eternity of heaven. And so, let us thank God for His blessed apostles and prophets and martyrs today. Let us pray we shall be found worthy to be one with them in the House they build. And let us come to know the Lord even more, who is at the heart of us all. Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Carie Fortney. Music by Carie Fortney; used by permission. ******* O LORD, may we be built into your House with all your holy apostles. YHWH, let us become your dwelling place; let us make our home in your Spirit as you make your home in us. Let us be firmly founded in your apostles with Jesus as our cornerstone. Then through us, too, your Word will go out to the ends of the earth. Then we will be one with your apostles. Into your household let us be built, O LORD, with all your saints in Heaven. Let Heaven and earth declare your glory – truly let us be your handiwork. As your Son chose the Twelve by your hand upon Him, so let us be chosen and formed in their image to serve you faithfully in this land, to make this land as your kingdom. 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";} Let our words not be spoken in vain, LORD, our prayers not fall short of your glory; let us rather speak only in the Spirit that your light we might bring to this place. Though our cause seem hopeless, though darkness beset us, yet let us look to you and find refuge in the prayers of your apostles, of all the holy ones in your Temple.

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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
    904
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © James Kurt
  • Show Website
    The BreadCast