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. 11시간 전

    February 15 - Sunday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

    (Sir.15:15-20; Ps.119:1-2,4-5,17-18,33-34; 1Cor.2:6-10; Mt.5:17-37) "Oh, that I might be firm in the ways of keeping your statutes!" The clear theme of today's readings is the need to "exactly observe" the commands of the Lord, to keep His law "with all [our] heart." It is this walking "in the law of the Lord" that makes us blessed in His sight. It is popular to believe that Jesus' coming somehow nullifies the law and makes it unnecessary for our lives. The Lord makes it quite clear the opposite is true: "I have not come to abolish but to fulfill." In fact, He could not make the point more certain than His saying, "Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law." Indeed, He does not say only that killing subjects one to judgment, but even anger at one's brother. Not only is committing adultery wrong, but "everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Simply because forgiveness is greater in the presence of Jesus does not mean punishment is less; it is in fact greater as well, and more than greater – eternal. Now "the Spirit scrutinizes everything." Now even the smallest of sins is exposed to the all-encompassing light of Christ and to the "all-seeing… eyes of God." The sins being more greatly exposed, of course the forgiveness is greater, for there is that much more for the all-compassionate God to forgive. But by the same token, for those who do not come to Jesus to receive His grace and mercy, for those who choose death over life… the punishment is certainly all the greater; for more they see upon their souls about which to gnash their teeth. And now the choice that is made by the will of man is no longer temporal: it is made eternal by the Son of Man. There is no release from Gehenna, and Jesus comes to usher us into Heaven or cast our souls into Hell. And further warning is found in the saints, who have said that most must pay "the last penny" in the fires of Purgatory before entering the heavenly gates. The Lord gives no one "license to sin." All shall be responsible for their actions against Him and against His wisdom and love. All are commanded to act justly before Him, if we hope to come into His kingdom. "Yes" is "yes" with the Lord, and "no" is "no": no deception will stand before Him. We must pray each day for the wisdom to follow Him, and so find His everlasting grace upon our souls even as we journey through this world. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Give Me Strength" from Loving Spirit, third album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, let us resolve to walk in your wisdom that we might find eternal life. YHWH, help us to follow in your ways with our whole heart, to seek ever to fulfill your commandments, to be obedient to your Word and that of your Son. Then we shall be blessed, for then we shall be perfect even as you are perfect. Now your Spirit reveals all your truth through the teaching of Jesus. Now light is fully shed on the wonders of your Law. Now we are called to love as you love – not to be angry with our brothers, not to have lust in our heart… not to let our eyes wander or our tongue speak anything but your truth. The way to Heaven your Son makes clear to us: O LORD, let us heed His Word and walk in His holy way! 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";} How holy we must be to enter your presence, how detached from all sin. Nothing of darkness can approach your glory, and so to the letter we must follow your Word. Indeed, we must wholly live in your love. To see as you see, O LORD, to transcend our blindness… to come to what is beyond our minds, we must give ourselves over to the Spirit and be purified of every stain of sin.

    6분

  2. 20시간 전

    February 14 - Prayer to Sts. Cyril and Methodius

    O brothers in the faith who brought that same faith to the peoples entrusted to your care, who extended the reach of the Church, gathering in lands under her holy roof and into her blessed arms… faithful you were unto death in proclaiming the word of God – please pray that we, too, shall be holy brothers of Christ, offering our work, our lives, for the sake of the nations yet to be called into His fold, for the sake of peoples unfamiliar with His Word, that the heavenly kingdom may come to fulfillment and all be made one in God's presence.

    1분

  3. 23시간 전

    February 14 - Saturday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II

    (1Kgs.12:26-32,13:33-34; Ps.106:4,6-7,19-22; Mk.8:1-10) "Whoever desired it was consecrated and became a priest of the high places." For this sin "the house of Jeroboam… was to be cut off and destroyed from the earth." Not only will their king be so punished, but the whole Israelite nation will find the wrath of the Lord for such idolatrous action. Not learning from their forefathers, whom the Lord had a mind to wipe entirely from His book of life and the promise He had given Abraham, again "they exchanged their glory for the image of a grass-eating bullock." Led by Jeroboam, who from selfish anxiety for the power the Lord had given him made two calves of gold and set them up for the people to worship – by the ministration of priests not chosen by God – they sinned grievously; as Solomon had done, they broke the most essential command to love God above all else. And this sin will stain the nation for perpetuity and lead in time to their exile. Only those so ordained by God may serve at His temple. Only in the place He assigned is sacrifice and worship to be offered. And only He is to be worshiped and adored. No man, no king, can take any of this in his own hands. Trust in God and obedience to His will is necessary. All must go up to Jerusalem. It is clear that our gospel today is a foreshadowing of the Mass, wherein Jesus' Body is the bread we eat. After teaching the people at length, the Lord desires to share with them food that will nourish them for their journey home. But the disciples had but seven loaves of bread. Yet in an action foretelling the consecration of the Holy Eucharist, "taking the seven loaves He gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to His disciples to distribute." And the leftovers of this miracle reach down to us this day; from "the seven wicker baskets" the disciples gathered after four thousand had eaten, we yet feed. And it is a wonderful paradox that the more we eat of the Lord's blessed Body, the more there is for others to share. But this feast is not eaten under every green tree. None can build high places and make priests for themselves. Only those ordained by Christ distribute His bread. And so we must come up to the Church He has founded to receive Him, the Church within whose walls His sacred body rests each day. Only this Temple is our Jerusalem. ******* O LORD, you provide us Bread at the hands of your apostles; let us worship in your House alone. YHWH, why are we so inclined to exchange the glory you give us for the image of a grass-eating bullock? Why do we turn to the work of our own hands and worship the golden calves we make rather than you, the one true God? How shall we conquer our pride? It is you who feed us, dearest LORD, your hand alone that provides for all our needs. You alone love your children, for you are a faithful Father. Yet we put our faith in molten idols. Your wondrous deeds you have made plain to our eyes; your own Son you have sent into our midst. All we ask for He gives in His grace. He would teach us all we need to know… yet how soon we forget His presence among us. Help us, O LORD, to turn back to you. All as one we assemble before you this day in your holy Church, dear God, and pray that by those you have ordained you will feed all your people with the Body and Blood of your only Son.

    5분

  4. 1일 전

    February 13 - Friday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II

    (1Kgs.11:29-32,12:19; Ps.81:9-15; Mk.7:31-37) "My people heard not my voice, and Israel obeyed me not; so I gave them up to the hardness of their hearts." The Lord has said, "There shall be no strange god among you nor shall you worship an alien god," but the people did not listen. Led by their corrupted king, "they walked according to their own counsels" and took to themselves the perverse gods worshiped by the nations of the world. And so it is that the prophet must remove his "new cloak" and tear it "into twelve pieces," one for each of the tribes of Israel. How sad that the great kingdom which had so recently been united and so greatly been blessed by peace round about under the reign of the wise Solomon, now is to be torn asunder. Only a remnant will be left to David, out of respect for the Lord's promise to him; and now, we are told: "Israel went into rebellion against David's house to this day." "If only my people would hear me, and Israel walk in my ways…" The psalmist's words come as a lament for the deafness of the nation. If they would but listen and turn to Him, their amazement would go "beyond all bounds," as does that of the people who brought Jesus "a deaf man with a speech impediment and begged Him to lay His hand on him." They, too, would exclaim, "He has done everything well! He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak!" For Israel is this deaf man. All of us are this man impeded in his speech. All need desperately to turn to Him, to have Him pray over us – to seek the words of His lips. And so all will know the blessing that comes thereby: "At once the man's ears were opened; he was freed from the impediment, and began to speak plainly." Hear the voice of the Lord, brothers and sisters. Listen to it in the deep recesses of your heart. This voice comes to heal, like light to the very drums upon which the vibrations beat. Such purity could be yours. Such grace could be known in all the world, healing the rifts that divide nations and peoples, if all would but come to Jesus in the same faith as this deaf man and his friends. And then would we speak plainly of what the Lord has done. No deceit upon our lips, we would declare Him Lord… and the amazement at the peace He brings would extend to the corners of the world. Let your ears "be opened!" to His voice; with a soft heart turn to Jesus the Christ. ******* O LORD, you make the deaf hear and the mute speak; heal our brokenness – let us worship you alone. YHWH, open our ears that we might hear your voice calling us to worship you alone. Let us turn from strange gods and walking in our own ways and be obedient to you. We are deaf and we are dumb; may your Son touch us and pray over us that we might declare your glory to all. O let us be healed! Why are our hearts so hardened against your loving embrace? Why do we turn so readily from the radiance of your face to look upon the corruption of this unholy place? You alone are LORD and God, your Son alone can save us – O let us heed your call, dear LORD! From our sin may He redeem us. From rebellion let us come, we who are our own worst enemy. Save us from ourselves, dear God, and our disobedience. Take us far from the crowds and give us your attention, that somehow our hearts might open to your loving voice.

    5분

  5. 2일 전

    February 12 - Thursday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II

    (1Kgs.11:4-13; Ps.106:3-4,35-37,40; Mk.7:24-30) "It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs." Jesus speaks these words to a foreign woman, a pagan Greek, who "beg[s] Him to expel the demon from her daughter." They seem harsh. Some may interpret them so. After all, in our gospel we find Jesus traveling to the northernmost part of Israel where "He retired to a certain house and wanted no one to recognize Him." And here comes this foreign woman to beg at His table… Can He find no peace? But though the Lord may be weary, He is not angry. He but tells the truth: He has come for the lost sheep of Israel; it is only after He is gone that His followers will bring His salvation to the ends of the earth. First, "the sons of the household" must be fed. All in proper order. Notwithstanding this, the woman's great faith prevails upon the Lord – and probably greatly heartens Him – and her prayer is answered. It is in the application of the quote to King Solomon that it becomes harsh, for is this not what David's son has done? Has he not taken the greatest of blessings the Lord has heaped upon or will heap upon any man, and turned them over to the devil? Solomon, the wisest and richest of all kings, "did evil in the sight of the Lord," and that unreservedly – and that without compunction. It is only for the sake of his father David that the Lord does not wrest all His gifts from him that very day. You say, "But didn't David sin greatly in committing adultery and murder?" Yes, the servant of the Lord did sin. But this king humbled himself ever before his God. He repented with a whole heart, and did not return again to his sin. Solomon recognizes no sin. Scripture says nowhere he is sorry; his repentance is lacking. And his sin is of the most grievous, the most deeply rooted kind: he turns to worship of other gods. In his reign and by his leadership, the people "sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons," taking thus the very flesh and blood of the children of Israel and throwing it to the dogs. For this "the Lord grew angry with His people, and abhorred His inheritance." For they perform abhorrent acts under him who had become a most abhorrent king. This king who had received six hundred and sixty-six gold talents a year in regular payment showed himself comfortable with the mark of the beast unto whom he had turned his heart. "His foreign wives who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods" he preferred to the love of the Lord; and so it is he who is cast from the Lord's presence. Our psalm says of the Israelites, "They mingled with the nations and learned their works"; the great works of sin known in the darkness of this world became their own. But in our gospel it is a foreign woman who humbles herself before the True King. What of us, brothers and sisters? Where does our allegiance lie? For His Word does now travel to the ends of the earth; one can now no longer hide. ******* O LORD, cast the demons from our midst that we might find a place in your kingdom. YHWH, your chosen ones lose their blessing when they turn from you to the worship of demons; and those who were far from your favor have demons cast from themselves when they beg your grace at the feet of your Son. It is but a crumb from His table we need to find our salvation. May He turn His attention to our need. The children of the promise lose their inheritance when they sacrifice their sons and daughters on altars built to the idols of the nations. Led by Solomon in their disobedience, they are deprived of the kingdom you bestowed on them. And now, by your great mercy, O LORD, those who had been enslaved to demons now may enter your presence and find your favor; those with whom your Chosen had mingled and so lost their way now have their inheritance blessed as they humble themselves before you. O let us be in their number!

    6분

  6. 3일 전

    February 11 - Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes

    O lovely Lady who appeared to Bernadette, Mary, Blessed Virgin and Mother of our Lord – let our eyes, too, see your beauty and hear your voice calling us to pray for sinners, calling us to come to you with our prayers and to wash ourselves clean in the water you provide through Jesus your Son. O Immaculate Conception, so pure, so full of grace, cleanse all our sickness from us; let us be immersed in the bath of purity that washes us of sin, that makes us whole in the sight of God. If we but had innocent hearts we would see you, we would remember the blessing you are to all faithful souls… O let us come to you and find the grace we need this day.

    1분

  7. 3일 전

    February 11 - Wednesday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II

    (1Kgs.10:1-10; Ps.37:5-6,30-31,39-40; Mk.7:14-23) "The mouth of the just man tells of wisdom and his tongue utters what is right." Today in our readings we have a passage to illustrate the great extent of the wisdom and riches of King Solomon. "The queen of Sheba, having heard of Solomon's fame, [comes] to test him with subtle questions." She had not believed the report she'd heard of him, but having "witnessed Solomon's great wisdom" in the answers he gave to every one of her questions – "nothing remained hidden from him that he could not explain to her" – and having seen "the palace he had built" and all the amenities that surrounded him… "she was breathless." And rightly does this pagan queen attribute the blessings Solomon enjoys to the Lord, who "has made [him] king to carry out judgment and justice." How true it is that the Lord blesses him who holds "the law of God in his heart." And rightly does David declare in our psalm that if we "commit to the Lord [our] way… He will make justice dawn for [us] like the light." We shall shine "bright as the noonday," bright as Solomon's temple, if we "trust in Him." If Solomon's servants were happy, how much happier should we be to "stand before [the Lord] always and listen to [His] wisdom." For having eaten at the table of such grace and glory, what could come from our mouths but the same? And what shall we be called then but wise men? But the same mouth which utters wisdom may also utter evil. For though the good man from the treasure of his heart speaks only good, it is also so that "wicked designs come from the deep recesses of the heart" as well. Here one may find murderous plots and malicious intent. We shall find soon that Solomon's heart will change and that what "emerges from within" him will bear little likeness to wisdom. And so, should we not all heed the Lord's words of warning in our gospel today and take care what comes from within our hearts, that we ourselves are not rendered "impure"? Let the wisdom of the Lord and His holiness always issue forth from our hearts in all our words and actions. Then we shall know the blessings of the eternal King. ******* 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, make us pure; make us wise according to your ways. YHWH, what comes from our heart? Does it condemn us or show us wise? Do we trust in you and so commit our way in keeping with your own, or do we follow the wiles of this wicked world? We need all look within ourselves to see if you are present there. Be with us, LORD; let us be blessed by you. It is from you we find anything of worth. At your hand we receive our food, and it is your mouth that teaches us. Help us to hear the words of your Son, the chastisement He brings to our souls. Let us eat this day of His Body and His Blood. Only this food will sustain us. Only His words give us life. Help us open our hearts to the wisdom He utters and so find our place at His table. You are our salvation, LORD, delivering us from all evil. Let us speak of your glory to all with ears. May our lives be pleasing to you this day.

    4분

  8. 4일 전

    February 10 - Prayer to St. Scholastica

    O innocent soul, pure as an angel, meek as a lamb, from slavery you were taken to the house of God, where freedom you found in faith in the Lord – pray for the freedom of all slaves chained in soul or body, that they shall be released from the snares of this world to walk at liberty with Jesus. Pray His goodness reign in all His children, in all who would be gentle as this Lamb; may all those in need of His grace hear His Word proclaimed, and in His blood be redeemed. And pray His Mother watch over all who are near or far from Him, till they enter His presence.

    1분
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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.

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