January 7 - Prayer to St. Raymond of Penafort
The BreadCast
O redeemer of captive slaves, those enslaved to sin and those enslaved by the clutches of the world – preach to us this day the freedom found under the Cross of Christ and in the repentance of heart blessed by the grace upon the Church. Teach us well the path to Heaven, which is wrought not in comfort and peace but in struggle against sin, in the laying down of our lives before our persecutors. Ransom us from wayward thoughts and actions, and from the snares of the adversary who waits for our misstep. In Christ alone may we find our rest.
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January 7 - Wednesday after Epiphany
The BreadCast
(1Jn.4:11-18; Ps.72:1-2,10,12-13; Mk.6:45-52) “If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is brought to perfection in us.” Jesus has just fed the five thousand men with the five loaves and two fish. He has performed a great miracle before the eyes of His disciples and through their hands. Yet “their minds were completely closed to the meaning of the events,” and when He comes walking toward them on the water in the middle of the night as their boat is tossed about by a storm, they are “terrified.” They are afraid...
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January 6 - Prayer to St. Andre Bessette
The BreadCast
O friend of the lowly, humble child of St. Joseph, servant of the poor and counsel to the afflicted through whom the Lord worked miracles… how He blessed your ignorance with His wisdom, your weakness with His strength; unattached to this passing world, you drew souls to the world to come – pray we be as poor and lowly as the dust you swept each day, as the Child Jesus in the manger at Bethlehem. Pray we, too, have ears to hear and answer the needs of others and that good St. Joseph will hold us in his arms and carry us with you unto Heaven.
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January 6 - Tuesday after Epiphany
The BreadCast
(1Jn.4:7-10, Ps.72:1-4,7-8,11; Mk.6:34-44) “Justice shall flower in His days, and profound peace, till the moon be no more.” Our psalm (of Solomon, the king of peace and wisdom) relates the infinite justice of God, He who “defend[s] the afflicted among the people” and “save[s] the children of the poor.” Such is the judgment of our God, who “rule[s] from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth”: His perfect justice He showers upon all. And how is this justice effected? It is already evident from what we have...
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January 5 - Prayer to St. John Neumann
The BreadCast
O shepherd who walked in the humble stead of your flock, who worked so diligently among those in your care, speaking to their hearts; you who gathered into schools the little ones, who saw to the education of the children… and all this in a foreign land – pray for the country in which you ministered, that its lambs once again be raised in the faith and its strangers be once again shepherded by one as anxious as you for their well-being. Here let us find the grace of Christ to redeem the lowly and the lost.
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January 5 - Monday after Epiphany
The BreadCast
(1Jn.3:22-4:6; Ps.2:7-8,10-11; Mt.4:12-17,23-25) “Every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belongs to God.” And for every spirit that acknowledges Him, He answers all prayers: “Whatever we ask we shall receive at God’s hands.” “Ask of me and I will give you the nations for an inheritance…” And so, when “they carried to [Jesus] all those afflicted with various diseases and racked with pain,” He heard this prayer made in faith, made in the belief that He could do this, and as Matthew so simply and...
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January 4 - Prayer to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
The BreadCast
O mother through marriage and religious Mother, who indeed became mother of many, many sisters whom you led in the faith and many children whom you taught in your schools – in your wisdom teach many still the path of Christ, the way of charity He has trod, that renewed will those be who call you Mother, and instructed well those in their classrooms throughout the land. What should we teach our children, dear Mother? Have we not forgotten the lesson of Christ? Pray for us, I beg, this day, that the way and the truth we shall follow.
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January 4 - Epiphany of the Lord
The BreadCast
(Is.60:1-6; Ps.72:1-2,7-8,10-13; Eph.3:2-3a,5-6; Mt.2:1-12) “They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary His Mother.” And so our prophecy of Isaiah and our psalm of David come to pass: “Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you… the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.” And “the kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts; the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute. All...
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January 3 - before Epiphany
The BreadCast
(1Jn.2:29-3:6; Ps.98:1,3-6; Jn.1:29-34) “Look there! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” “This is God’s chosen One.” This is He upon whom “the Spirit descend[s]” – who takes away our sins and makes us pure by His own baptism “with the Holy Spirit.” He who walks with Him walks in holiness, for “everyone who acts in holiness has been begotten by Him” – we have become “children of God” because we have now the grace of the only Son. Listen to the manner in which the Baptist “sing[s] joyfully before the...
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January 2 - Prayer to Sts. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen
The BreadCast
O bishops and doctors, O brothers so united in Christ, united in your desire to find His wisdom and live His virtue, for you what mattered but to be like Christ? All you would have given up to find His way; nothing of this world did you wish but to leave it behind. One in heart and mind, one in word and work and in the food of which you partook… how blessed it is when men live as brothers, when nothing they desire but the other’s good – teach us this way of union in the love of God.
info_outline(Is.52:7-10; Ps.98:1-6; Heb.1:1-6; Jn.1:1-18)
“You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.”
The coming of the One prophesied by Isaiah and hailed by John these many days is fulfilled in our midst at this blessed moment in time. And so in our dark world, the light that is God now shines.
“Hark! Your sentinels raise a cry, together they shout for joy, for they see directly, before their eyes, the Lord restoring Zion.” To “all the ends of the earth” He makes “His salvation known: in the sight of the nations He has revealed His justice.” For the Lord God walks among us now as man; He “who is the refulgence of His glory, the very imprint of His being,” is now revealed, is now made flesh; “full of grace and truth,” He appears in our midst.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” And He through whom “all things came to be,” who brought life, “the light of the human race,” now shines – and now we come to know Him; now we hear the Word spoken to our ears… now we can say, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” The Word no longer hidden, God no longer speaks “in partial and various ways,” but now “through the Son” the fullness of truth, the blessing of peace, is upon us.
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him,” for He comes “announcing peace… announcing salvation.” No longer need we wander in darkness, wondering, Where is our God? He is here. He is Jesus. He washes all darkness from our minds, He accomplishes “purification from sins,” and He sits “at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” giving power to be like Him, “to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, “who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.” Come, see and know the transcendent glory standing in our midst.
And so, what have we to do but rejoice? Though “no one has ever seen God,” though He has seemed to us beyond understanding, yet “the only Son… has revealed Him.” So let us “sing joyfully before the King, the Lord” “with the harp and melodious song.” Let us “break into song” and “sing praise.” For He whom “all the angels of God worship” has come for our salvation, and our Christmas should only be merry.
God be with you, brothers and sisters. Jesus love you.
Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt.
Music: "Baby Being Born" from The Innocent Heart, first album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt.
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O LORD, your glory is revealed to us this day,
and so let us offer you due praise.
YHWH, your Son is born in our midst and so reveals your glory to us. His light now shines in this dark world, and so men are saved from their sins. O let us worship Him who is the very imprint of your Being! who is one with you. You are with us this day in your Son, and what should we do but rejoice.
Glory to you, LORD and GOD, for now the feet of Jesus walk among us and peace is proclaimed to the ends of the earth; salvation is ours by the grace and truth He brings to this land. Let all eyes behold the salvation He has wrought in our midst. Let all souls break out in song in praise of His glory.
It is our joy to worship you, O LORD, and the only Son whom you have sent. For you are our life; in you we are born – by you all Creation comes to be. And now you are with us in the flesh of your Son; now your dwelling is among us. To us this day please bring your peace.