Word on Fire Reflection

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus names love of God and neighbor when a scholar challenges him to identify the greatest commandment. Since love (caritas) is what God is, it is also that virtue that conforms us most dramatically to God. Thomas Aquinas says, in eloquently simple language, that caritas is friendship with … Read moreSunday, October 29, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus chooses the Twelve, whom he names Apostles. In the apse of the church of San Clemente in Rome, there is a gorgeous twelfth-century mosaic that gives visual expression to the call of the Twelve. At the center of the composition is the crucified Jesus. Surrounding the cross … Read moreSaturday, October 28, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus criticizes the crowd by saying that they could interpret the earth and the clouds but do not know how to interpret the present time.  So, how do we know what’s going on in the world? How do we read the signs of the times? We could do … Read moreFriday, October 27, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus declares his desire to spread eternal life among human beings. He says, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!”  What is that fire? His forerunner, John, gave us a clue: “I baptize you with water for repentance, … Read moreThursday, October 26, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, the Lord urges his disciples and us to be prudent servants, following his ways in anticipation of his coming again. Theologians often call prudence the queen of the virtues because it is the capacity to reign sovereignly over one’s life, both ordering one’s inner powers and directing one’s … Read moreWednesday, October 25, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the faithful servant who the master finds vigilant on his return from a wedding. He is calling us to be vigilant for the Second Coming. Though Jesus came and fulfilled the expectations of his people, nevertheless we still wait. The liturgy states it … Read moreTuesday, October 24, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, today in our Gospel, Jesus tells of a rich man who has been so successful that he doesn’t have enough space to store his harvest. So he tears down his barns and builds bigger ones. But that very night, he dies—and all of it comes to naught. “Thus will it be … Read moreMonday, October 23, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, the Pharisees try to trap Jesus. They ask, “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” Church-state questions are nothing new—and they continue to be just as divisive. In the matter of religion and politics, the same principle of Jesus’ wonderful one-liner applies: “Repay … Read moreSunday, October 22, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus promises that divine aid will assist us in defense of persecution. From the earliest centuries into modern times, the Church, especially when it shows itself clearly, has been persecuted. Do you know the principle that if someone brings bad news people will “kill the messenger”? In some … Read moreSaturday, October 21, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us: “Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.” In Jesus Christ, you are connected to the very power of God, to that which is here and now creating the universe. You stand above the vagaries of space and time. You are in … Read moreFriday, October 20, 2023