Word on Fire Reflection

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus praises the faith of the Canaanite woman who persisted in her prayer for her daughter. St. Augustine offers a perspective on petitionary prayer. God wants us to ask persistently—not in order that he might be changed but that we might be changed. Through the initial refusal to … Read moreSunday, August 20, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in our Gospel for today, Jesus proposes that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like children. Why? For starters, children don’t know how to dissemble, how to be one way and act another. They are what they are; they act in accordance with their deepest nature. “Kids say … Read moreSaturday, August 19, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches the sacred unity of marriage. The physical, sexual, psychological, economic, and loving bonds between a man and a woman have, ultimately, a sacred purpose: to act as a conduit of the divine life in the world.  How does this work? In the unity of a man … Read moreFriday, August 18, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches the necessity of constant forgiveness. Forgiveness is an act and not an attitude. It is the active repairing of a broken relationship, even in the face of opposition, violence, or indifference. When a relationship is severed, each party should, in justice, do his part to reestablish … Read moreThursday, August 17, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus is instructing his community in the difficult task of correcting an errant brother or sister. He tells them to avoid the practice of gossiping and complaining to others about a grievance; rather, they should confront the person who has offended them directly and courageously. That way, the … Read moreWednesday, August 16, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The dogma of the Assumption of Mary describes the full salvation of this prime disciple of Jesus.  In the Apostles’ Creed, we speak of our hope for “the resurrection of the body.” Mary, assumed body and soul into … Read moreTuesday, August 15, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus prophesies his Crucifixion and Resurrection: “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.”  What enabled the first Christians to hold up the cross, to sing its praises, to wear it … Read moreMonday, August 14, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus rescues Peter and says: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” When we live wrapped up around our own egos and their fears, we inhabit the narrow space of the pusilla anima (the little soul), but when we forget our awful seriousness, when we live … Read moreSunday, August 13, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus exhorts his disciples and us to exercise our faith. St. Paul tells us that “we walk by faith, not by sight.” We see the world around us. And we can learn to understand it according to conventional categories—political, cultural, economic, etc. Christians don’t turn from the world … Read moreSaturday, August 12, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” Even a cursory reading of the Gospels reveals that Jesus’ death is the center and goal of the narrative, that which animates and gives verve to the story.  How can … Read moreFriday, August 11, 2023