Word on Fire Reflection

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus commissions the twelve Apostles. Perhaps we can see here a fulfillment of his prophetic invitation to the first disciples: “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.” “Come after me.” This is a Hebraicism that indicates discipleship. Jesus is not offering a doctrine, a … Read moreWednesday, July 6, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus directs his disciples to “ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest,” to pray for evangelists to rescue the lost. But what precisely does it mean to evangelize? Euangelion (glad tidings) was a familiar word in the culture of the New Testament … Read moreTuesday, July 5, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, the centerpiece of our Gospel today is the story of the hemorrhaging woman. To get at the power of the Gospel, we have to reacquaint ourselves with the Jewish attitudes regarding the clean and the unclean. In the book of Leviticus, we find carefully laid out prescriptions dealing with animals, plants, … Read moreMonday, July 4, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, our Gospel today, taken from the magnificent tenth chapter of Luke’s Gospel, is a portrait of the Church. It shows us what Jesus wants his followers to be doing and how to do it. Listen to how the passage begins: “The Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him … Read moreSunday, July 3, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, people ask Jesus why he and his disciples do not fast when John and his disciples do. Jesus’ answer is wonderful: “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is still with them?” Could you imagine people fasting at a wedding banquet? It would be ridiculous! … Read moreSaturday, July 2, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, our Gospel for today is the simple but magnificent story of the conversion of Matthew. I urge you to read it and meditate upon it this week, for it’s about you. The Bible says that Jesus told Matthew, “Follow me.” The call of Jesus is meant to get into your mind, … Read moreFriday, July 1, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, the Lord heals a paralytic after first forgiving his sins. Jesus’ initial words to this paralyzed man are, “Your sins are forgiven.” Why does God forgive our sins? Because he wants us alive, he wants us moving, he wants us in action, realizing what we can be. Jesus … Read moreThursday, June 30, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus declares that the gates of hell (“the netherworld”) shall not prevail against his Church. And Jesus insists that this society, grounded in Peter’s confession, would constitute an army so powerful that not even the fortified capital of the dark kingdom itself could withstand it. It is fascinating … Read moreWednesday, June 29, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in this wonderful story of the calming of the storm at sea, we witness some of the spiritual dynamics of fear and trust. The disciples stand symbolically for all of us journeying through life within the narrow confines of the fearful ego. When they confront the storm and the mighty waves, … Read moreTuesday, June 28, 2022

Bishop Robert Barron Friends, in today’s Gospel, a man who appears willing to become Jesus’ disciple makes a reasonable request: “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But the man receives a shocking rebuke from Jesus: “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.” What is more important than the mission? Nothing. … Read moreMonday, June 27, 2022