Word on Fire Reflection

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus candidly tells his disciples that they will abandon him but that he will not be alone because the Father is with him. Then he encourages them: “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but … Read moreMonday, May 22, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, as the Lord anticipates his glorification on the cross, he prays, “Father, the hour has come.” The “hour” was a focal point of Jesus’ entire life. At the outset of his ministry, Jesus declined his mother’s request at the wedding of Cana saying, “Woman, how does your concern … Read moreSunday, May 21, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us this assurance about answered prayer: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. If God cannot change, what is the point of asking him for anything? And if God is omniscient, what is the point … Read moreSaturday, May 20, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus exhorts us to pray with expectant faith: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” Invoking the name of Jesus is an effective way to monitor the quality and shape the content of our prayer. When we … Read moreFriday, May 19, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, today is the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. After his Resurrection, Jesus continued to appear to his disciples for a time—the standard biblical frame of forty days—and then stopped. The Ascension of Jesus signals the definitive end of these post-Resurrection appearances and the commencement of Jesus’ operation from the … Read moreThursday, May 18, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to guide the Church through time. “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.” Since Jesus is the Son is God, … Read moreWednesday, May 17, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that when he returns to the Father he will send the Advocate to be with them.  This “Advocate” is presumed to be ontologically one with the Father and the Son. Jesus says, “He [the parakletos] will glorify me, because he will take from what … Read moreTuesday, May 16, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus predicts that his disciples can expect violence from their world. “They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the … Read moreMonday, May 15, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to accompany his disciples. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth.” Just a moment before, Jesus had … Read moreSunday, May 14, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus warns us to expect persecution. But do not be afraid, because in Jesus Christ, we are connected to the very power of God, to that which is here and now creating the universe. No matter how much violence and mayhem is going on, we have a place … Read moreSaturday, May 13, 2023