Word on Fire Reflection

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in our Gospel for today, Jesus outlines the cost of becoming his disciple: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” We have a very antiseptic view of the cross, for we have seen it for so long as a religious symbol. But … Read moreFriday, August 5, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus asks his disciples that devastating question: “But who do you say that I am?” But the disciples don’t speak. Are they afraid? Perhaps. Finally, Simon Peter speaks: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” You are the Mashiach, the “anointed one,” the long-awaited Savior; … Read moreThursday, August 4, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, a long tradition stresses the perseverance of the Canaanite woman we meet in today’s Gospel. Augustine says that we pray in order to expand our will to accept what God is going to give us. Another reading shows how the woman exemplifies the proper attitude toward God, a combination of humility … Read moreWednesday, August 3, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus comes to his disciples walking on the water. Whenever we encounter the disciples in a boat, we are dealing with the Church, the barque of Peter. Here we see the beginning of the Church’s journey through time. Winds and waves toss the barque. Anyone acquainted with Church … Read moreTuesday, August 2, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, our Gospel today tells about the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus instructs the crowd to recline, and they do so on the grass. Taking the loaves and dried fish, Jesus makes a meal that satisfies the enormous crowd. They are hungry, tired, and worn out from their exertions, and Jesus … Read moreMonday, August 1, 2022

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 moreSunday, July 31, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Herod has John the Baptist beheaded, making him a protomartyr of Christ’s followers, the first of many martyrs to come. Can we read that terrible and wonderful book of martyrs, the book of Revelation, without seeing the power of bold, truthful proclamation in the early Christian Church? And … Read moreSaturday, July 30, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” Jesus came primarily as a warrior whose final enemy is death. It is easy to domesticate Jesus, presenting … Read moreFriday, July 29, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus presents two more parables on the kingdom of heaven. In the first parable, we hear that “the Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea.” Here the kingdom of heaven is coming for us. This is an eschatological image of the kingdom, of God’s final … Read moreThursday, July 28, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, today Jesus offers two parables about the kingdom of heaven. Let’s focus on the first one: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again.” Sometimes God’s love is found that way. There’s a saying: “Life is what happens to you … Read moreWednesday, July 27, 2022