The BreadCast

(2Pt.1:2-7; Ps.91:1-2,14-16; Mk.12:1-12) "I will deliver him and glorify him; with length of life I will gratify him and will show him my salvation." So the Lord speaks of us through prophecy of His only Son. So the Lord seeks to accomplish in everyone who "acknowledges [His] name." So indeed He has sent "the Son whom He loved" for our salvation. So He prays with Peter, the Rock of His Church, "Ma...

O Mother of our Lord, who are we that you should visit us? Over hills you came to see your cousin Elizabeth and the child she conceived so miraculously; to her you brought the Child who brings us all salvation. Yes, to us all you bring Jesus… all holy souls you visit with His grace. John the Baptist proclaims this Savior whom he has known first in your voice, and all hearts leap up at your approac...

(Ex.34:4b-6,8-9; Dn.3:52-56; 2Cor.13:11-13; Jn.3:16-18) "The Lord, the Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity." "Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; and blessed is your holy and glorious name." Brothers and sisters, let us praise God this holy day; let us rejoice in His love. Let us be as Moses, wh...

(Jd.17,20-25; Ps.63:2-6; Mk.11:27-33) "Welcome the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ which leads to eternal life." "As [Jesus] was walking in the temple precincts the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached Him." They come to Him who is the true Temple here in the place where He teaches, but they do not come "praying in the Holy Spirit" or "persever[ing] in God's love." Their questions...

O lover of the Church for whom you offered your life, defending the saving truths of the faith against the evil tide engulfing humanity, proclaiming the Gospel of Christ and the light of the Lord to the ends of a desolate world drowning in a thousand false notions of love as man makes himself God and so knows only emptiness inside – pray that we will extricate ourselves from the embrace of the cul...

(1Pt.4:7-13; Ps.96:10-13; Mk.11:11-26) "The consummation of all is close at hand. Therefore, do not be perturbed; remain calm so that you will be able to pray." As at the time Jesus walks the earth the end of the Israelite nation is at hand – a consummation signified in "the fig tree withered to its roots" at His command, a consummation that will be fulfilled in the crucifixion of the Messiah but...

(1Pt.2:2-5,9-12; Ps.100:2-5; Mk.10:46-52) "Be as eager for milk as newborn babies – pure milk of the Spirit to make you grow unto salvation." Does not the "blind beggar Bartimaeus" show his eagerness for the milk of the Spirit, for the blood of Christ upon his soul, when he persistently calls out "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!" despite those who "were scolding him to make him keep quiet"?...

O converter of peoples, called from the quiet of cloister walls you went obediently over seas to preach to the souls to whom you were sent, and the Lord worked through your obedience, spoke through the words you uttered to the nations… and so the light of holy faith banished the darkness of error and souls indeed were gathered into Christ's fold – pray, O shepherd, obedience shall be ours, too, an...

(1Pt.1:18-25; Ps.147:12-15,19-20; Mk.10:32-45) "The Son of Man has not come to be served but to serve – to give His life in ransom for the many." As Jesus and His apostles make their "way up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes," He tells them that these elders of the people "will condemn Him to death and hand Him over to the Gentiles, who will mo...

O priest of joy whose song of service rises unto the Lord until this day, whose delight in sacrifice inspires others to give themselves in freedom to the work of Christ – pray all God's priests and people will give themselves so completely in the love of the only Son that indeed a holy song might rise unto the heavens until He returns from there to carry us home forever. May the Lord's healing gra...

(1Pt.1:10-16; Ps.98:1-4; Mk.10:28-31) "Set all your hope on the gift to be conferred on you when Jesus Christ appears." "The Lord has made His salvation known: in the sight of the nations He has revealed His justice." That "which the prophets carefully searched out and examined" but was hidden from their eyes, that into which "angels long to search" is now indeed made known "by those who preach th...

O humble soul whom the Lord blessed with mystical elevations to His heavenly presence, you who remained so faithful through all trials and encouraged others to seek such perfection as well – pray that this proud age which leans so distinctly from the truth, from the love of God, will be consumed as you were by the Holy Spirit, by desire for the Lord's overtaking of our lives, that all souls will t...

O Shepherd and Father, defender of the faith and of holy MotherChurch against those who would rob her of her freedom, those who would rape her, stealing away her purity, those who would deny her singleness in the sight of God as the House which He has founded – those who would destroy the faith and bring to naught the Church, our Mother, and Peter, our Holy Father, do not relent in their efforts…...

O learned master whose life itself was as a monastery, consumed as you were by study and teaching and writing and prayer, who till the very end spoke the name of the Lord in all your words and deeds – pray that the incense of your life will rise unto the throne of God and intercede for us here below who are so far from His presence, from knowledge of His providence and remembrance of His sacrifice...

(1Pt.1:3-9; Ps.111:1-2,5-6,9-10; Mk.10:17-27) "Go and sell what you have and give to the poor; you will then have treasure in heaven." "You may for a time have to suffer the distress of many trials," for even if you are not a rich man with "many possessions" to give up, all that you have that is of the world must die before you will find "birth to an imperishable inheritance incapable of fading or...

O Holy Tabernacle, preeminent member and model of the Church to whom you gave birth… as you are Mother of the Head, so, too, Mother of the Body, of all those redeemed by the Blood of your Son, with whom you shared such intimate union – pray that we be made fruitful by your intercession, children of the Lord Most High and your children, conceived of the Spirit that overshadowed you and for whom you...

(Acts 2:1-11; Ps.104:1,24,29-31,34; 1Cor.12:3b-7,12-13; Jn.20:19-23) "Suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were." What our first reading captures in all its dramatic moment, David's psalm declares in clarity – "When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth" – and our gospel defines...

(Acts 28:16-20,30-31; Ps.11:4-5,7; Jn.21:20-25) "I wear these chains solely because I share the hope of Israel." The hope of Israel indeed wears chains. The Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior of the nation, is fixed to a cross. This is the call of all who follow Jesus – to die. But, Peter is prompted to ask as he walks with Jesus and the Lord explicates his dual call to serve as leader of the Chu...

O saint of the impossible whose union with Christ in His Passion and His glory serves to grant favors to those in great need, you whose great thirst to be one with our Bridegroom brought the help of the saints yourself – pray we poor souls shall fulfill our vocation, that through the din of this world we shall hear and answer the call of the Lord and give ourselves in His service in the manner He...

(Acts 25:13-21; Ps.103:1-2,11-12,19-20; Jn.21:15-19) "When you are older you will stretch out your hands, and another will tie you fast and carry you off against your will." And so the Lord "indicate[s] the sort of death by which Peter was to glorify God." And by his laying down of his life, this leader of the apostles shall indeed feed the Lord's sheep. After "they had eaten their meal," when the...

O sacrificial sheep, priests of the Lord who offered your lives even as you offered Mass, in union with Christ and His Church for the sake of your homeland: you prayed for its peace even as violence was done to you; you celebrated the Mass and baptized your flock even when it became a crime, even when it cost your lives – such union with Christ pray all souls, and especially our priests, shall kno...

(Acts 22:30,23:6-11; Ps.16:1-2,5,7-11; Jn.17:20-26) "I set the Lord ever before me; with Him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed." Yes, "the Lord appeared at Paul's side" at night, in prison, after his testimony and the near riot it caused in Jerusalem. He comes to encourage him, to strengthen him for further trials; and through all Paul shall remain strong. "Keep me, O God, for in you, I ta...

O apostle of the holy name of Jesus who proclaimed God's loving mercy to those in darkness that the light of faith might save souls and make them children of the light of Christ, radiating His splendor, the splendor of truth, to the ends of the earth – where is such zeal today, where apostles with the preaching of Paul; and so, how shall souls be saved, how shall false beliefs flee, infidelity be...

(Acts 20:28-38; Ps.68:29-30,33-36; Jn.17:11-19) "O Father most holy, protect them with the name you have given me." In our gospel today Jesus prays to the Father, "who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens," to "guard [His disciples] from the evil one." And the parallels continue between His and Paul's parting words, as the Apostle warns his own disciples, "When I am gone, savage wolves will...

(Acts 20:17-27; Ps.68:10-11,20-21,33; Jn.17:1-11) "Father, the hour has come! Give glory to your Son that your Son may give glory to you." A day of departures. A day of final words and commendations. Paul bids farewell to the leaders of Ephesus, declaring his faithfulness to them; and Jesus prays to the Father in the hearing of the disciples, calling the Lord's blessing upon them. "The Holy Spirit...