Word on Fire Reflection

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, today’s Gospel tells the story of the birth and naming of John the Baptist. John’s father Zechariah had been rendered speechless after his vision in the sanctuary, but we hear that “his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.” What follows this passage is the wonderful Canticle … Read moreFriday, December 23, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, we hear the Magnificat—Mary’s great hymn of praise to Yahweh. The hymn commences with the simple declaration, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” Mary announces here that her whole being is ordered to the glorification of God. Her ego wants nothing for itself; it wants only … Read moreThursday, December 22, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, today’s Gospel tells the marvelous story of the Visitation. At the Annunciation, the angel had told Mary that the child to be conceived in her would be the new David. With that magnificent prophecy still ringing in her ears, Mary set out to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was married to … Read moreWednesday, December 21, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she has been chosen to be the mother of God. In the face of this overwhelming word, Mary is confused: “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And she cannot begin to imagine the full consequences … Read moreTuesday, December 20, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, our Gospel today is from the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke, which is thoroughly drenched in Davidic themes from the Old Testament.  The first thing we hear about Zechariah is that he serves as priest in the Jerusalem temple; and David’s dream was to build the temple in which … Read moreMonday, December 19, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, the Gospel for today presents Matthew’s version of the Incarnation. The central claim of Christianity—still startling after two thousand years—is that God became human. The creator of the cosmos, who transcends any definition or concept, took to himself a nature like ours, becoming one of us. Christianity asserts that the infinite … Read moreSunday, December 18, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, today we read the opening lines of Matthew’s Gospel—the first words that one reads in the New Testament. They are a listing of the genealogy of Jesus, the forty-two generations that stretch from Abraham to Christ. If the Word truly dwelt among us, then he was part of a family that, … Read moreSaturday, December 17, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus says that his Father’s works testify to his identity. Jesus’ words are the Father’s words, and his deeds are the Father’s deeds. His story is the Father’s story. Nature speaks of God, the philosophers say true things about God, the arts can reflect him, the lives of … Read moreFriday, December 16, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, let us meditate on John the Baptist. Young John, the son of the priest Zechariah, grew up in and around the temple, acquainted with its rituals. And he sensed that the true Messiah was on the horizon. And so he went away from the old temple, but he continued to act … Read moreThursday, December 15, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, today we celebrate the memorial of the great Spanish mystic St. John of the Cross. We find ourselves, St. John of the Cross taught, in the midst of a good and beautiful world, but we are meant finally for union with God. Therefore, the soul has to become free from its … Read moreWednesday, December 14, 2022