Word on Fire Reflection

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus presents a child as an archetype to his disciples who were arguing about who was the greatest. How so? Children don’t know how to hide the truth of their reactions. They haven’t learned yet how to impress others. In this, they are like stars or flowers or … Read moreTuesday, February 21, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus drives a demon from a deaf and mute child and heals him. The account demonstrates the role of faith in divine healing. Jesus describes his disciples who could not heal the boy as a “faithless generation.” And when the child’s father wonders if Jesus can heal his … Read moreMonday, February 20, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus commands us to love our enemies. And Jesus showed us how to do it. Immediately after being fixed to the cross, he said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” One of the most important elements of Jesus’ kingdom ethic was, accordingly, … Read moreSunday, February 19, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, today’s Gospel presents the Transfiguration of Christ. What is the Transfiguration itself? Mark speaks literally of a metamorphosis, a going beyond the form that he had. If I could use Paul’s language, it is “the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of Jesus Christ.” In and through his … Read moreSaturday, February 18, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus lays down the conditions of discipleship. A few verses before our reading, Jesus predicted his Passion for the first time. He will sacrifice himself in love for the other—and in this, he will come to deeper life and become a source of life to others. Ronald Knox … Read moreFriday, February 17, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” No other religious figure or founder would ask such a question. This is the primordial and peculiar question of the Christian faith. It has to do with him and who he is. And so the Church, for … Read moreThursday, February 16, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, after Jesus heals the blind man in today’s Gospel, he tells him, “Do not even go into the village.” Now, blindness is a biblical image for lack of spiritual sight, the inability to see things as they are. One of the effects of the fall was a loss of holiness—seeing with … Read moreWednesday, February 15, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus warns his disciples against the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod. Conversely, he wanted them to be the leaven that would transform their culture. The Second Vatican Council spoke of the universal call to holiness—the summons of all the baptized to be a transforming leaven in … Read moreTuesday, February 14, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, the Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign from heaven. They are testing him because they have no faith or trust in him. Faith is an attitude of trust in the presence of God. Faith is openness to what God will reveal, do, and invite. It should be obvious … Read moreMonday, February 13, 2023

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, today’s Gospel presents Jesus as the new Moses delivering his Sermon on the Mount. In the Old Testament, we find Moses, the great teacher, going up a mountain to receive the Law and then sitting down to teach it. Likewise, Jesus goes up a mountain and sits down to teach. However, … Read moreSunday, February 12, 2023