May 29 - Friday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II

June 7 - The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year A

(Dt.8:2-3,14b-16a; Ps.147:12-15,19-20; 1Cor.10:16-17; Jn.6:51-58) "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever." "Not by bread alone does one live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of the Lord." And here is the Word standing before our eyes. Here is the Bread that gives us life. Here is Jesus Christ, in this Blessed Sacrament, nourishing all our lives. Yes, His "flesh is true food, and [His] blood is true drink," for it feeds not only our bodies, but our souls as well, anointing us with His presence, joining us to His sacrifice. And so it becomes His flesh we carry in our bodies; so it becomes His blood running in our veins. For, as Paul asks so pointedly, "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?" And so, do we not become like our God, who comes to us so humbly in this food, who becomes one with our own flesh and blood? Is heaven not here with us and within us as we eat of His presence? Or does He lie about His gift? Brothers and sisters, nothing more wonderful could the mind of man conceive than this blessed gift we receive at the hands of our own Savior. It is a wonder beyond our understanding and yet a wonder truly present with us, as real as our own flesh and blood. As the Lord "fed [the Israelites] in the desert with manna, a food unknown to [their] fathers," so we feed now on this food unknown to all – this bread of the angels. And though our doubting hearts may question, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat," when we partake of this Sacrament of the altar, we find no question remaining; for in faith we taste His glory. Over and over Jesus repeats His refrain: "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life," knowing how slow we are to hear, so slow of heart to believe – how easily we "forget the Lord, [our] God, who brought [us] out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery." And falling back to the "waterless ground," we fall away from His table and fail to realize that "with the best of wheat He fills" us. But listen to Him. Come to Him. Eat. Drink. Do not have unbelieving hearts – but believe! Be as children, pure and lowly, and "glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion," and what is beyond your understanding will become the light of your understanding, and lead you to eternal life. He has given His "flesh for the life of the world." Live in Him, brothers and sisters. Live in Him. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Body of Christ" from The Whole Whale, eighth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, how you provide for us! giving us even your Son's Body and Blood to nourish us on our journey to you. YHWH, feed us with your Son's Body and Blood, for He alone is the finest wheat and the drink that lasts unto eternity. Apart from you we are dead in our sin, LORD, wandering aimlessly in this desert filled with snakes. But He came indeed to save us, to share with us the life that is you. As to an oasis we come to Him, and He does not fail to revive us at His table, at the altar of His sacrifice. O LORD, may we ever find nourishment in Jesus; each day let us be fed by His Word and His Sacrament, which makes that Word so real… real as the blood coursing through our veins. He indeed took flesh for our sakes, and now by His sacrifice that flesh He leaves with us in this Bread of the angels. Let us never turn from Him, LORD, but participate always in His Body and Blood. Make us your children, make us like Him, the Word made flesh to join us to you.

June 6 - Prayer to St. Norbert

O preacher of the Word of God and model of the Gospel, you embraced poverty and penance in accord with the way of Christ and His teaching and called your brothers to do the same, that the Church might be renewed, that she might be holy even as the Father is holy – pray all souls might indeed find holiness of life even as within cloister walls; pray all might embrace the poverty of Christ, living the faith pronounced in sacred Scripture. And pray that they may be led along this narrow path to the kingdom of the Lord by faithful priests and bishops, shepherds like yourself.

June 6 - Saturday of the 9th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II

(2Tm.4:1-8; Ps.71:8-9,14-17,22; Mk.12:38-44) "Put up with hardship, perform your work as an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." In final words to his blessed disciple, Paul exhorts Timothy with all the strength he is able to muster "to preach the word, to stay with this task whether convenient or inconvenient – correcting, reproving, appealing – constantly teaching and never losing patience." He even invokes "the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is coming to judge the living and the dead," to emphasize the seriousness of his charge. Clearly the end approaches for Paul. He himself states: "The time of my dissolution is near" – and so it is with great urgency he desires his preaching task to go forth, for Timothy's own sake, that he might share the "merited crown" that awaits his father in the faith, and for all who look "for [the Lord's] appearing with eager longing." Paul sees as he draws nigh to the Day of the Lord what has perhaps never been known so clearly as today, that "the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but, following their own desires, will surround themselves with teachers who tickle their ears." He prophecies so well what is true of every age but is magnified so greatly in the dark time in which we live: "They will stop listening to the truth and will wander off to fables." More have died in war in the last century than in all the rest of human history; and the martyrs' blood has never mounted as high to heaven as in this atheistic age wherein all hearts turn away from true doctrine to enshrine the workings of their own hands and minds. (May the smoke of Satan be blown from the confines of the Church and the devil's veil of illusion be lifted from all minds!) But we must not be as the scribes "who like to parade around in their robes and accept marks of respect in public, front seats in the synagogues, and places of honor at banquets." The prideful adulation that sparks the unholy fire of the cults so prevalent in our glamorous time is not what must call to our hearts or be the leaven for our souls. We must but praise the Lord! With our psalmist we must sing to our Lord and our God, "the Holy One of Israel": "My mouth shall be filled with your praise, with your glory day by day." We must "give [Him] thanks with music on the lyre," with our body's every fiber. Brothers and sisters, we must "always hope and praise [God] ever more and more." Ever we are called to draw closer to the Lord. We have not yet been as the widow who "gave from her want, all that she had to live on"; we have not yet been "poured out like a libation" as has Paul; we have not yet shed blood with Jesus on the cross. We cannot yet say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith"; for there is much race yet to be run and to the end our faith must endure and grow ever stronger day to day. Indeed our ministry must be fulfilled, all our strength spent in witness to the Word of Truth. ******* O LORD, send us true teachers of the faith, that we might be so faithful ourselves, pouring out our lives for your sake. YHWH, to you let us turn in faith; instruct us ever in your way. Let your truth alone be taught by all who stand in your place. Laying down their lives for your flock, may they find their blessing on your Day. And let us all lay down our lives with them; O LORD, let all men sing your praise. For none is released from your call to preach, to live the faith all our days. Soon your Son shall return; let our eyes be up and looking for His coming. Let us desire to unite with you and so give all we have toward that end. We may not have much to give, LORD, but if we place all at your service, you will multiply our good works and make us worthy to stand with you. O LORD, keep us from those who lead souls astray by their words and by their actions. To Jesus indeed let us look, and to His faithful disciples, to find the way we should walk. If we are diligent in following you, if we are humble and speak the truth, you will bless us and all we do, and join our song to that of your saints. May Jesus teach us this day.

June 5 - Prayer to St. Boniface

O apostle of the faith called out from monastery walls to travel into the world, laboring and suffering even to the shedding of blood as you steered Christ's ship pounded by waves but kept on course, spreading out upon the face of the earth by the sacrifice of shepherds like yourself – pray the bishops of today will unceasingly teach the faith, defending the Church from all assaults, never silent in the face of danger, never turning from their call but preaching the Gospel in season and out of season that in all seasons Christ's flock might increase and be strengthened. Let us rather die than give in to the impending darkness.

June 5 - Friday of the 9th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II

(2Tm.3:10-17; Ps.119:157,160-161,165-166,168; Mk.12:35-37) "Princes persecute me without cause but my heart stands in awe of your word." The Word of God and persecution are our topics for today. On the one hand, Paul tells Timothy, "All Scripture is inspired of God and is useful for teaching," and Jesus uses a passage of Scripture (Psalm 110) to refute His persecutors and verify that the Son of God, the Word of God made flesh, is indeed greater than David – being David's Son insofar as the flesh is concerned, but truly begotten of God the Father and one with Him from all eternity. And on the other hand, Paul states categorically, "Anyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus can expect to be persecuted," and our psalmist sings, "My persecutors and my foes are many." But these two hands become one hand, working in the one Body of Christ, revealed in the passage Jesus quotes: "The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool." For by the power of the Word of God in Scripture and made flesh in Christ we His children conquer with Him all our enemies… these persecutors become as so much empty wind. Brothers and sisters, never lose awe for the Word of God spoken in Holy Scripture. Be like Timothy who "from [his] infancy" knew "the sacred Scriptures, the source of the wisdom which through faith in Jesus Christ leads to salvation." Treasure this gift at our hands, "inspired by the Holy Spirit" as it is for our instruction. And I pray your teachers will always be as Paul, so faithful to the Lord in knowing His Word and living it with "resolution, fidelity, patience, love, and endurance, through persecutions and sufferings." Then your path will be straight on the way to God; then will your hearts and minds be filled with light. There are many "evil men and charlatans" about who, "deceived themselves" and "deceiving others," fail to drink of the undrainable waters of Scripture, and who avoid the Lord's cross at all costs… listen not to these. "I turn not away from your decrees," our psalmist declares, and so he finds "great peace" despite any trial. Brothers and sisters, for us who love the Lord and are like the crowd in today's gospel who "heard [His words] with great delight," "there is no stumbling block." All our persecutions but add to our ever increasing knowledge of our Savior, drawing us ever closer to the kingdom of God, where Jesus reigns forever. ******* O LORD, as we contemplate your Word, we find you – you who are Truth, you who are God… and so have great peace. YHWH, let us stand in awe of you and your Word; Jesus Himself is the Word imparting wisdom to us that by faith in you we might be saved. Lead us unto life everlasting by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And as we heed your Word, O LORD, and walk in His way, give us the endurance that comes from you; for indeed we shall be persecuted if to Him we remain true. As Jesus was led to the Cross and all His apostles as well, so will all those obedient to your Word in Sacred Scripture, all those who find life in your commands. But in you we shall ever have peace, for with you we shall ever be. O majestic LORD, far above us all, let us not be deceived by false teachers who would lead souls into sin but be ever guided by those you appoint to stand in Jesus' place and guide the Church unto glory. May your apostles remain firm in your way that all may come soon to your eternal kingdom.