Friends, welcome to Word on Fire Catholic Ministries. Word on Fire is an

apostolate dedicated to the mission of evangelization, using media both old and

new to share the faith on every continent and to facilitate an encounter with

Christ and His Church. The efforts of Word on Fire engage the culture and bring

the transformative power of God's Word where it is most needed. Today we invite

you to join Bishop Robert Barron as he preaches the gospel and shares the

warmth and light of Christ with each one of us.

Peace be with you. Friends, it's a particular importance this week that we read

the first reading and the gospel together. For the former Sheds enormous light on

the latter. The Church usually puts them in juxtaposition so that reading one

and the gospel kind of shed light on each other but this week it's especially

clear. We hear in the first reading from the 18th chapter of the book of

Deuteronomy it's a passage that was of signal importance for biblical Jews.

Now we probably would pass it over without noticing it but trust me this

passage haunted the minds of Old Testament Israel. So Moses, you know,

arguably the greatest figure in the history of Israel is speaking to the people

before they enter the Promised Land. Now here's what he says in chapter 18.

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like myself of your own

race a brother of yours. It is to him that you must listen. Okay so that's Moses.

Speaking of the people Moses as I said clearly the most important person in the

history of the Old Testament. Moses who combined in his person the offices of

priest, prophet and king. Moses who led the people to freedom Moses who gave

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