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The BreadCast


Daily Exposition of the Readings for Catholic Mass...

as well as Prayers to the Saints on the General Roman Calendar (for the U.S.).  

From the books Our Daily Bread and Prayers to the Saints by James H. Kurt - both with imprimatur.

Feb 23, 2022

(Jas.5:1-6;   Ps.49:14-20,Mt.5:3;   Mk.9:41-50) 

“You lived in wanton luxury on the earth;

you fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter.”

“You rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries,” James warns all those who trust in their wealth.  For though they were “contented with their lot,” to find which they “condemned, even killed, the just man,” yet “like sheep they are herded into the netherworld,” where “quickly their form is consumed.”  “Your wealth has rotted, your fine wardrobe has grown moth-eaten, your silver and gold have corroded” – all these things in which the fool has trusted will not only die of themselves but also “devour [his] flesh like a fire,” for so greatly has he placed his heart upon them that with their destruction he is also destroyed.

“See what you have stored up for yourselves against the last days.”  The rich man fattens himself for “Gehenna, where ‘the worm dies not and the fire is never extinguished.’”  Thus does Jesus call us to repentance in such severe terms, for lacking of it indeed how “quickly [our] form is consumed.”  It is not the body which matters, or this earth; heaven is all that matters, and so our souls.  Therefore, it is indeed better to cut off hand or foot or tear out one’s eye than to “enter Gehenna with its unquenchable fire.”  For what are these things, what are all the riches of the world, in comparison with the kingdom of God and its eternal riches?  Do not, therefore, be led astray by your earthly passions; store up treasures for heaven.

“The shouts of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.”  “The wages you withheld from the farmhands who harvested your fields” are known to God.  And as “it would be better if anyone who leads astray one of these simple believers were to be plunged in the sea with a great millstone fastened around his neck,” so much better would be your fate than to suffer eternally the fires of hell.  For what shall your unjust wealth benefit you there?  From whom shall you steal among your fellow prisoners in chains?

“The netherworld is their palace,” those who grow rich on the backs of the poor and oppressed of this world.  For ultimately “death is their shepherd, and the upright rule over them.”  They “shall never more see light”; but peace shall reign in the hearts of all God’s children.

*******

O LORD, let us not be plunged in the sea

or herded into the nether world,

but let us set our hearts and minds on you

and so find life everlasting.

YHWH, let us be poor, poor in spirit, poor to this world and its deadly passions.  Let us put no hope in the riches that rot, or we shall rot with them.  Let us seek, rather, the riches of your kingdom by giving our poor cup of water for the upbuilding of your Church.

Take from us, LORD, all that keeps us from you.  Let us not steal or walk in the paths of the unrighteous or look with lust upon anything or anyone.  Take hand or foot or eye from us instead; keep us from all sin.  Let our salt not rot, our lives not be worthless, but let us bear fruit in your NAME.

LORD, our God, take especially from us our foolish pride, our belief that we can do anything of ourselves.  O let us not trust in ourselves or in the things of this world but only in you and help rather than hurt the just man you bless in your holy will.  Let all souls be led to your kingdom.