The BreadCast

(Nm.21:4b-9; Ps.78:1-2,7,34-38; Phil.2:6-11; Jn.3:13-17) "God greatly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name." And why is it that "at the name of Jesus every knee should bend"? Why does "every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord"? It is because "He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." It is precisely because "He emptied...

O you of golden tongue, how well you proved the Word of God cannot be chained; how well you revealed its radiance to our ears and hearts… unconquered by threats of death and the sufferings the world imposes, you proclaimed the glory of God and His presence with us until the very end – pray, O dear shepherd, who held your flock so close to your heart that they became one body with you in Christ, th...

(1Tm.1:15-17; Ps.113:1-7; Lk.6:43-49) "Any man who desires to come to me will hear my words and put them into practice." Our psalm today declares that God is "enthroned on high" – "High above all the nations is the Lord; above the heavens is His glory." And why is the Lord so glorious, so worthy of our praise…? Because "He raises the lowly from the dust; from the dunghill He lifts up the poor." An...

O Mary, sweetest of creatures, whose name on our lips brings joy to our hearts… inflamed with love toward God and you we become in speaking your blessed name – pray we shall call your name, dear Lady, in our time of need, that you will be quick to intercede with your Son for our salvation. Washed in the water from His side and in His holy blood, pray we shall rise above the sea, beyond all rebelli...

(1Tm.1:1-2,12-14; Ps.16:1-2,5,7-8,11; Lk.6:39-42) "Remove the plank from your own eye first; then you will see clearly enough to remove the speck from your brother's eye." The answer to Jesus' question to His disciples: "Can a blind man act as guide to a blind man?" is obvious. No. It must be a man of sight, of vision, who leads those who are blind, who are without understanding. Paul has become a...

(Col.3:12-17; Ps.150:1-6; Lk.6:27-38) "Whatever you do, whether in speech or in action, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus." "Sing gratefully to God from your hearts in psalms, hymns, and inspired songs." Such is our speech and action when dedicated to God. Our lives indeed become a symphony of His grace when we "let the word of Christ, rich as it is, dwell in [us]." The "blast of the trumpet… wi...

(Col.3:1-11; Ps.145:2-3,9-13; Lk.6:20-26) "Set your heart on what pertains to higher realms where Christ is seated at God's right hand." Is this not the central message of the Lord's beatitudes: "Be intent on things above rather than on things of earth." For how could we be blest in poverty, hunger, and weeping if our hearts are set on this earth? And how could riches and fullness and laughter be...

O slave to the slaves, to those who came in chains to the new world, those whose dark skin made them seem to eyes of flesh less than men… to you these were children of God, souls to be saved by His love and through His Church, and so the thousands baptized by your hands celebrate your glorious sacrifice this day in God's presence – pray for us, dear brother, that the shackles of racial prejudice,...

(Col.2:6-15; Ps.145:1-2,8-11; Lk.6:12-19) "Coming down from the mountain with them, He stopped at a level stretch where there were many of His disciples." In our gospel, the Lord has gone "to the mountain to pray, spending the night in communion with God." Then at daybreak He chose His twelve apostles. On His way back down the mountain He comes upon those who have been waiting for Him, and He take...

O Virgin who bore the Son of God, who became the divine dwelling place for the Creator of us all, should we not celebrate your birth this day, the blessing of the generation of you who signal our salvation? Pray for us, dear Mother, pray for all your children, all who would call themselves sons of God and brothers of our Lord Jesus Christ... pray that all generations will call you blessed, that al...

(Mic.5:1-4 or Rm.8:28-30; Ps.13:6,Is.61:9; Mt.1:1-16,18-23 Note: I shall treat of both first readings) "It is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived this child." "God is with us," brothers and sisters, and how has He chosen to come among us but through a woman, but through a virgin found with child? And this Virgin daughter of Israel from "Bethlehem-Ephrathah, too small to be among the clans of...

(Wis.9:13-18b; Ps.90:1,3-6,12-14,17; Phlm.1:9-10,12-17; Lk.14:25-33) "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." The wisdom of the cross, that blessed necessity for every Christian's life. What does it teach us? How does it call us to act? Its wisdom is not of this earth, for the "corruptible body burdens the soul," but the counsel of the "Holy Spirit from on hi...

(Col.1:21-23; Ps.54:3-4,6,8; Lk.6:1-5) "Hold fast to faith, be firmly grounded and steadfast in it." "The Son of Man is Lord," Lord of the universe, Lord "even of the sabbath." He is the Word through whom all things have come and it is He who has "achieved reconciliation" for all with God, the Father. We must be presented to God "holy, free of reproach and blame." We must bow before His Majesty, t...

O lover of the poor and of the unborn, in whom you saw the face of Christ, by whom you held Him close to your heart and so comforted His thirst for souls – pray for us who are so blind to the presence of Christ in the least among us or even in those beside us. Pray, dear Mother, that we will hear their cry, which is Jesus' cry from the Cross, and that we shall not fear the darkness as we enter ben...

(Col.1:15-20; Ps.100:1-5; Lk.5:33-39) "New wine should be poured into fresh skins." "The blood of His cross" is poured forth for us; it becomes the new wine we drink this day, that which makes us new men by its grace. The scribes and Pharisees refuse this new wine, saying, "I find the old wine better," so they cannot see "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creatures," standing be...

(Col.1:9-14; Ps.98:2-6; Lk.5:1-11) "You will multiply good works of every sort and grow in the knowledge of God." As Simon Peter and the others "caught such a great number of fish that their nets were at the breaking point," so shall it be with any Christian who devotes himself to the work and the will of God. But as the apostles "brought their boats to land, left everything, and became His follow...

O great Shepherd, watchman of the House of God and protector of His flock, though in the monastery you would have stayed, when called to the Chair of Peter you guided the Church well through difficult times – pray that as difficult days continue a firm hand may continue to be found at the helm of MotherChurch. O pray that the faith be strengthened, that the Rock upon which this House is set will r...

(Col.1:1-8; Ps.52:10-11; Lk.4:38-44) "And He continued to preach in the synagogues of Judea." The Word goes forth, bringing healing to the hearts of the faithful. The Word goes forth, ever growing among the people. As "the message of truth, the Gospel… has come to [the Colossians], has borne fruit, and has continued to grow," so "it has everywhere in the world." As Jesus has set out "into the open...

(1Thes.5:1-6,9-11; Ps.27:1,4,13-14; Lk.4:31-37) "Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord." The Word of the Lord has all "authority and power." The Word of the Lord casts out demons. The Word of the Lord brings light to the soul who seeks Him. In Him we have no fear. He comes, brothers and sisters; yes, He comes… As He entered the synagogue in Galilee and cast out the...

(1Thes.4:13-18; Ps.96:1,3-5,11-13; Lk.4:16-30) "He comes to rule the earth." He is coming, and has come. He set us free from the prison of sin when first He came, and will set us free from death when He comes again and "we shall be with the Lord unceasingly." In our gospel we read of His first coming "to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives…" Fulfilling the words of the...

(Sir.3:17-18,20,28-29; Ps.68:4-7,10-11; Heb.12:18-19,22-24a; Lk.14:1,7-14) "Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God." Is this not the message of Jesus' parable in today's gospel, and indeed of all our readings – and indeed the essence of our Christian lives? "Take the lowest place." Exalt not yourself in the sight of God, who sits at table with you, whose pr...

(1Thes.4:9-12; Ps.98:1,7-9; Mt.25:14-30) "Those who have, will get more until they grow rich, while those who have not, will lose even the little they have." Again, brothers and sisters, we must always grow in the gifts and graces of the Lord, never looking down upon what He gives us as too little (or too much), but ever putting such talents to use that they might produce an abundant yield and bri...

O witness to the Truth, to the Light that has come among us, you gave your very life and death for the sake of Christ, who redeemed us in His blood, blood you shed with your Savior; you who were a pillar of iron against the whole land and against its king, you who stood so strong against the lust of the world, suffering its persecution so willingly, fortified even in death by the Lord and His prom...

(1Thes.4:1-8; Ps.97:1-2,5-6,10-12; Mt.25:1-13) "God has not called us to immorality but to holiness." And so, "keep your eyes open" and "make still greater progress" in the path that leads to His kingdom. Your lights shining brightly as you await His return, be ready to enter His marriage feast. "It is God's will that you grow in holiness," Paul instructs us in our first reading. "Conduct yourselv...

O shepherd made anew by Him who is within, Him who made us all, the Light above and beyond every soul who gave His life, His flesh as food that we might live – pray that the Lord and God of all will break through our deafness and dispel our blindness, that He will breathe His fragrant Spirit upon us and we too will be created anew, saved by His grace from the sin that has kept us from Him and thir...