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. 1시간 전

    July 29 - Wednesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II

    (Jer.15:10,16-21; Ps.59:2-4,10-11,17-18; Mt.13:44-46) "If you repent, so that I restore you, in my presence you shall stand." The Lord called Jeremiah even from before he was formed in his mother's womb, but it seems he falls short of fulfilling that call, for the Lord says to His prophet today, "If you bring forth the precious without the vile, you shall be my mouthpiece." Indeed it seemed that Christ's words in His parable today – "The reign of God is like a buried treasure which a man found in a field" – had been realized in Jeremiah, who declares, "When I found your words, I devoured them; they became the joy and the happiness of my heart." Yet it seems the prophet struggles to heed the Lord's instruction to "put up for sale all he had," to give up all else to receive fully the gift of God's gracious presence. Jeremiah complains to God, "Why is my pain continuous, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?" And what is this pain but the persecution he continually finds as "a man of strife and contention to all the land"? The Lord has called him to be a continual sign of contradiction toward His rebellious house, and the difficulties of this cross he must bear move the prophet toward despair. What is the "vile" matter of which Jeremiah must "repent" to become "a solid wall of brass" in his mission for God? It is, I believe, the "indignation" he says he has toward his fellow people, who, though evil in the sight of God, must be borne with patience, according to the Lord's call. It is his failure to be as really only Christ is – able to forgive His persecutors even as He stands nailed to the cross. Jeremiah must accept his weakness and trials, as does Paul later, but struggles greatly in this time before the coming of the Son. Yet the Lord promises to "free [him] from the hand of the wicked, and rescue [him] from the grasp of the violent." Yet the Lord is with him to answer his prayer when he cries out as has David, "Rescue me from my enemies, O my God; from my adversaries defend me." And yet he will know what David proclaims: "You have been my stronghold, my refuge in the day of distress." For whoever cries out to Him from the cross, the Lord hears; and to him He brings the greatest treasure of all – His own presence within him. (If you would find this "pearl" of greatest value, brothers and sisters, in a word, learn to love thy enemy.) ******* O LORD, you will defend us if we but trust in you; why do we not make you our pearl of great price? YHWH, you free us from the hand of the wicked, the grasp of the violent, for you are our refuge, our stronghold; and so, what need we fear? Let us trust in you and bear our Cross in joy. LORD, if we are to be your disciples, your prophets – your light – we cannot be less than you are. If with anger or indignation we speak to your people, how can it be you who are calling them to repentance? We must first repent ourselves of any vile matter that may be polluting our souls, and then we can serve as your image in this world. Help us to set aside all sin and attachment to sin that we might find you at work in our lives. O LORD, it is you who are the pearl of great price and so we should treasure above all our service of you and the persecution it necessarily brings. Would we be other than you were among us? Should we lay down our cross? Never, I pray. Rather, let us freely lay down our lives that we might find them in you.

  2. 1일 전

    July 28 - Tuesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II

    (Jer.14:17-22; Ps.79:8-9,11,13; Mt.13:36-43) "Remember not against us the iniquities of the past; may your compassion quickly come to us, for we are brought very low." If the prophet's "eyes stream with tears day and night, without rest, over the great destruction which overwhelms the virgin daughter of [his] people, over her incurable wound," how many more tears will there be "at the end of the world" when the "weeds are collected and burned"? For in our first reading Jeremiah sees "those slain by the sword" and "those consumed by hunger," suffering enough to bring tears – but this "blow" struck by the Lord is not one which "cannot be healed." "A time of healing" shall indeed come as the nation is brought back from exile only seventy years after its being taken; and soon Jesus shall come to "free [all] those doomed to death," to set prisoners free… to make permanent the compassionate deliverance of the Lord God. But at the end of the age, when Jesus comes again and finally, the sentence that is passed against those who have sinned shall have no means of repeal; the death upon souls shall be everlasting. In our gospel today Jesus speaks in plain terms as He explains "the parable of the weeds in the field." This is no mere fable but the delineation of the harvest time that shall come upon all. To heaven or to hell all shall go, and there shall be no more changing: no more opportunity for redemption for those set upon evil, and no more faltering into wickedness for those set upon good. Great shall be the eternal gifts showered upon the blessed, but what of the wailing then… what of the wailing? "We have sinned against you." "We recognize, O Lord, our wickedness." We pray you shall "remember your covenant with us," and from all our sin set us free. "Deliver us and pardon our sins" and we "will give thanks to you forever; through all generations we will declare your praise." Keep us safe from your judgment on the Last Day. Do not "cast [us] off completely," but raise our lowly hearts unto your kingdom. ******* O LORD, we are doomed to death for our sin, but Jesus comes to save us from the fiery furnace that we might shine your light forever in the kingdom. YHWH, remember not against us the iniquities of the past but let us be purged of all sin, that we might shine with you in your kingdom. For the glory of your NAME forgive our wickedness and let us share your glory in your holy Day. You are right to punish us, LORD, and to condemn us if we harden our hearts on the day of judgment. But we beg you to hear the sighing of the prisoners and free those doomed to death. Make us as the sheep of your pasture and we will give thanks to you forever. Our very lives are dependent on you, LORD our God. We cannot eat or breathe except that you feed us, except that you give life to our souls. If you remove your providential hand, we cannot but be destroyed, we cannot but perish in our sins. But you are our Savior – let your will be accomplished among us and let us be redeemed! Save us from the fiery furnace and let us stand as citizens of your kingdom, Father of us all.

  3. 2일 전

    July 27 - Monday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II

    (Jer.13:1-11; Dt.32:18-21; Mt.13:31-35) "You were unmindful of the Rock that begot you. You forgot the God who gave you birth." So Moses says of the people he led through the desert. So Jeremiah is told of the Lord's chosen at the time of the Babylonian exile. So it is with those who are deaf to Jesus' parables. And so we, too, forget the Lord whenever we turn from Him in sin. So close were the Lord's children to Him and His blessings: "As close as the loincloth clings to a man's loins, so had I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, says the Lord." The God of earth and heaven calls them "my people, my renown, my praise, my beauty." He has set them aside to be His own, to make them holy in the eyes of the world. "But they did not listen." But they did not remain faithful. Going after "strange gods to serve and adore them," they showed themselves to be "sons with no loyalty in them." And so they became "rotted, good for nothing." How sad is sin. "What a fickle race [we] are." For all we need the Lord provides, yet we "walk in the stubbornness of [our] hearts" a path away from Him, apart from His love. And now Jesus "announce[s] what has lain hidden since the creation of the world." In parables He speaks of the kingdom of God. But how many hearts are closed to His teaching? How many "refuse to obey [His] words?" And should the Lord not therefore be "filled with loathing and anger toward His sons and daughters"? The kingdom of heaven cannot grow in us if we separate ourselves from Jesus. As Israel and Judah were cast off, so shall we be, if we do not heed His commands. Following the "vain idols" of the nations will not bring us to His kingdom, but only make us abominable in His sight. And what horror to lose His blessing, to turn our renown and beauty to an everlasting curse. It need not be so. To Him we can return, with open ears and understanding hearts and light thus filling our eyes. Remaining ever in His presence, remembering His Name, He who has planted us as seed "in His field," He who has given birth to new life within us, will see that each day we grow. And on the last Day we shall be formed in His image. ******* O LORD, your Son announces the kingdom of God; let us listen to His voice and turn from our disloyalty, that we might enter His reign. YHWH, you are hidden within Creation and so within us; from the beginning you are with us, though we be blind to your presence. But your Son comes to reveal your glory, your blessing upon our souls. You are our very life – let us not turn away from your love. To the Word of your Son let us listen, LORD, that the humble seed He is might be planted well within our hearts and so grow unto eternity, and we might come to dwell with you. Let us rise with Him who has died for us, who has taken upon Himself the rottenness of our sin and stubborn pride. We are good for nothing, LORD. Having provoked you with our disloyalty, what can we be but cut off from your grace and the light of your holy face. Yet you come to speak to our souls and call us home to you, if we would but listen. O let us heed your word of chastisement wherein is your call; let us understand the wisdom so hidden from our limited vision. May we learn our lesson well and so come to dwell in Heaven.

  4. 2일 전

    July 26 - Prayer to Sts. Joachim and Anne

    O parents of the Virgin Mary, grandparents of the Lord our God, you who gave birth to our Blessed Mother, through whom we are blessed for all ages… O you through whom the promise to David came to be fulfilled, you whose virtues found favor with the Lord, you whom He chose to bring forth His Mother and the Mother of all the redeemed – pray our posterity shall endure even as your own, that we shall bear fruit even in our old age and see our children's children in a happy Jerusalem. Pray we shall know the Virgin as intimately as you and so come to know our Lord in the kingdom where He reigns.

  5. 3일 전

    July 26 - Sunday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

    (1Kgs.3:5,7-12; Ps.119:57,72,76-77,97,127-130; Rm.8:28-30; Mt.13:44-52) "The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple." Wisdom. The "pearl of great price." How precious the ability "to distinguish right from wrong" by the grace of God, and to choose the right way at all times. For finding the pearl is one thing, a gift from the Lord, but wisdom is revealed in him who "goes and sells all that he has and buys it," knowing there is no treasure greater than the heavenly light shining from the face of God. It is heaven we must desire. What else is of any worth, my friend? And in His justice, in His truth, in the wisdom and understanding that come from the touch of His hand and the words from His mouth alone will we find what is the desire of all the righteous souls. Solomon demonstrates that he "love[s] [the Lord's] commands more than gold," and this pleases the God who seeks to rule His heart. He shows that he is the son of his father David by coming humbly before the Lord, recognizing that he is "a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act." And such utter dependence on the Lord's grace He cannot but bless, declaring to His servant: "I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you." Because the young king has made the desire to "know what is right" his request of his God, he receives this, and so much more. All knowledge, all wisdom is given to Solomon, and shall not be taken away. But perhaps we should note that what he is given here in such abundance, he shall not heed throughout his life – for he shall not always sell all else to follow in the light of the Lord's decrees. Perhaps none but Jesus Himself can do this wholeheartedly; but none should also make the riches of the earth, which contradict the heavenly treasure, his abiding desire, as the older king shall do. All must strive to remain in His light, to be as "the scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven… who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old," who serves as the angels that "separate the wicked from the righteous" – even on this earth distinguishing evil from good. "Brothers and sisters, we know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose." Paul's words reflect the wisdom of God. For truly His elect are known to Him from before time; truly He calls us "to be conformed to the image of His Son." And truly we know that by the justification of our souls under the cross of Christ we shall come to the glorious presence of the Father in heaven. And this is all that matters. "Do you understand all these things?" Then place all in His hands. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: ""Heaven" from Listening to the Lamp, ninth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, you yourself are the pearl of the greatest price – let us find you and your Word at work in us this day. YHWH, let your kingdom come into our midst; let us seek it with all our heart. For nothing else has worth, nothing else lasts – only in you do we find a home. Let your wisdom fill us, LORD, like light from above. Let us listen to your Son's teaching that we may be conformed to His image. You desire to give us every good gift; it is your will to bring us to glory. May our desire be in accord with your own and all will work only for our good. And we shall come to Heaven, where you dwell. We shall come to the light of your face, O LORD, and gaze upon you forever. Your angels will gather us into your House, and there we will remain always. 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 invite us to ask of you our heart's desire, and you cannot but grant what you offer freely. May our desire please you, LORD, may it be your own, and we shall be blessed with your treasure.

  6. 4일 전

    July 25 - Prayer to St. James

    O martyred apostle, first to endure the death of Christ, you have indeed drunk of His cup, fully accepting the sacrifice to which all are called, and so blazed the path of service for others to follow – pray all God's children, all those blessed to be called as sons, as brothers of the Lord, will have the courage and strength that comes from the Spirit to lay down their lives as a ransom for many and so find a place beside our Savior Jesus in His heavenly kingdom. Pray the blood of Christ in which you shared so intimately pour upon His Church and all souls be blessed to drink thereof unto the world's salvation.

  7. 4일 전

    July 25 - St. James

    (2Cor.4:7-15; Ps.126:1-6; Mt.20:20-28) "Continually we carry about in our bodies the dying of Jesus, so that in our bodies the life of Jesus may also be revealed." In His apostles the death and resurrection of Jesus are most clearly shown. It is particularly their place to suffer persecution, to be "afflicted" and "crushed", "constantly being delivered to death for Jesus' sake"; and it is particularly their grace to show forth the glory of the resurrection. In this selfless service of the Lord, what comes through them is the preaching of the Word; "the spirit of faith" prompts them to speak, and though it bring their death, they do not hesitate: "We believe and so we speak, knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up along with Jesus and place both us and you in His presence." Paul speaks here for all the apostles, and for the grace which comes to us as well through their service. The Son of Man has come "to give His life as ransom for the many," and James truly moves quickly "to drink of the cup" of which the Lord partakes. As the first apostle martyred for the faith, he leads all the apostles forth to such sacrifice, in which they shall all soon join him. Once the Spirit is upon them, speaking through them, they will have the unquestioned faith necessary to confront without fear, but indeed with holy joy, the death to which each is called. They "possess a treasure in earthen vessels" and the vessels must be broken for the "surpassing power" of God to come to fulfillment in them and through them. Willingly do they lay down their lives once the Spirit inspires them, once their faith has been strengthened – once they have lost entirely any preoccupation with honors and attachments of this life, they come preaching and serving, facing the death the world inflicts therefore without a thought to run and hide, but knowing the joy it shall bring deep inside. "Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing." We are taken as captives from this world, our hands tied behind us. But upon returning from this exile, after this death we suffer, we know our mouth will be "filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing." So surpassing is the peace which awaits us, the troubles of this life of mission in His Name are as nothing. Let us pray to the Lord that we shall always speak freely in His Name. Let us pray to imitate James and all the apostles in their selfless service of Christ. May we have always that Spirit of faith that led them forth, that in the death of our bodies, we, too, may know and reveal the life of Jesus Christ. Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Carie Fortney. Music by Carie Fortney; used by permission. ******* O LORD, may the sacrifice of the apostles bring many souls into the gates of your kingdom. YHWH, let us be ready to be delivered even to death for the sake of your Name and in union with your Son and the blood He has shed for our sakes. All persecution let us gratefully endure, knowing it shall but lead to great joy in your kingdom. Crushed in union with the sacrifice of Christ, let us rejoice for the blessings to come. Let our hearts be set on service of you, O LORD, and not on the honors of this world. Only those who lay down their lives for the sake of your Name shall find union with you in Heaven. And so, let us drink of the cup of your Son that your glory may be known among all. Though speaking of you bring our end in this world, we shall still continue as has James, for then we shall be raised up with him at Jesus' side. All power comes only from you, LORD. We pray you work in all our lives that even our mortal flesh shall serve as a holy sacrifice.

  8. 4일 전

    July 24 - Prayer to St. Sharbel Makhluf

    O solitary prayer, alone with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament you offered your life for the salvation of souls; in penance you lived, and so a light shone even from your tomb to show the presence of Christ and His miraculous powers at work in the world – pray all souls seek perfection in prayer, the perfection of being with Jesus, of remaining always in His presence with a heart of love poured out for our fellow man. Pray even now for the salvation of all, for what else matters but that we come to dwell with you in the light of our Lord, adoring Him forever?

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소개

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.

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  • 제작진
    jameshkurt@gmail.com
  • 방송 연도
    2007년 - 2026년
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    © James Kurt
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