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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.

Aug 28, 2022

(1Cor.2:1-5;   Ps.119:97-102;   Lk.4:16-30) 

“Your faith rests not on the wisdom of men

but on the power of God.”

Paul comes to the Corinthians with preaching that has “none of the persuasive force of ‘wise’ argumentation, but the convincing power of the Spirit,” and with them he determines to “speak of nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”  Similarly, when “Jesus came to Nazareth where He had been reared,” in the synagogue He simply read the passage from Isaiah which prophesies the coming Messiah, sat down before the eyes of all, and stated, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”  I AM here.  I AM He.  This is the day of salvation.  Period.  And here even at the beginning of His ministry we see how the crucifixion is already near, as His townspeople attempt to kill Him for the truth He speaks.

Upon what is this simple wisdom, this power of the Lord, based but the Word of God?  The psalmist, whose “meditation all the day” is the law of the Lord, declares in truth and in joy: “Your commandment has made me wiser than my enemies.”  It grants him “more understanding than all [his] teachers” and “more discernment than the elders,” because all genuine wisdom comes from the Word spoken by the mouth of God and not through human learning.  We have seen that Scripture is the foundation of the teaching of Jesus Himself, who is the Word of God made flesh.  Yes, He speaks much more through “the appealing discourse which came from His lips.”  Yes, there is oral tradition as well (for the Word of God is living and active); but on Scripture He begins His instruction, and continually He refers to the Word.  Whether rejecting the devil’s temptations, rebuking the Pharisees and scribes, or enlightening the people – as He tries to do today by referring to Elijah’s having to go to Zarephath and Elisha’s healing only the Syrian, to show how prophets are not accepted in their native place – the Lord’s words are founded in the Word of God, in Scripture.

And, of course, an integral part of that Word is the suffering the Christ must undergo.  But notice that even as the people intend “to hurl Him over the edge” of the hill of Nazareth, just as directly as He has spoken truth to them, so directly and with the power of God He “went straight through their midst and walked away.”  For the Word is as a sword which pierces all the dark limits of the world, and even through death it shall lead all to salvation.

Brothers and sisters, let your faith rest on this Word that is Christ found in Scripture and living in the Church, for the Spirit does not die with the devices of the human mind.  This Spirit holds eternal life.

*******

O LORD, open our eyes that we might see and know

the blessing you bring us by your Son’s Cross.

YHWH, let us follow your Word and your way, the way of your only Son, the way of the Cross that leads to life.  Of Christ crucified let us speak; with all our lives let us give witness to Him.  Then we shall be obedient to your Word as He – then we shall make your wisdom our own.

O LORD, let us meditate on the Word that comes to us in Scripture, that comes walking among us in your Son.  All the day let our hearts be set on the illumination your Word brings.  Though in the Word we are chastised for our sins, though it lead us along a narrow path; if we observe your precepts and follow in the way of the Christ, you shall guard our steps and keep us from every evil.  For then we shall be wiser than all our foes, wiser than any other soul, for then your Spirit will be with us; His power will be upon us.

May the Word of Truth come from our Savior’s mouth and lived in His very flesh help us to walk straight through the midst of our enemies and come to you.