Good morning, this is Cardinal Francis George, and I invite you to join me for the next few minutes to reflect with Father Robert Baron on the Word of God, which is the Word on Fire.

Father Baron will challenge us to open our hearts to the Word on Fire, which is God's Word of Love for each of us.

If our hearts are open, the Lord can change and transform us, who we might speak with love about the one who is love.

The Archdiocese of Chicago through the generosity of Sacred Heart Parishing Winnetka now presents the Word on Fire.

Peace be with you. Friends, today our first reading is taken from one of the most extraordinary and strange books in the Bible, the book of Ecclesiastes.

I'd recommend if you have a chance, sit down this afternoon, or sometime this week, and read the book of Ecclesiastes is very short.

You could read it easily in maybe 20 minutes or half hour at the most.

And I guarantee you'll be surprised, and probably fairly involved by this book, this strange and disturbing book.

It's written in the voice of Kohailith, it's a Hebrew word that means the preacher or the assemblyman.

But Kohailith is identified traditionally as Solomon, as the son of David.

And remember in the scripture, Solomon is the wisest man in the world.

So here we have what are offered to us as reflections of terrific wisdom.

Now, how does this famous book open?

Vanity of vanities says Kohailith, all things are vanity.

Now, that sets the tone for the entire book.

Here's an old man. He identifies himself as an old man at the end of his life, a king mind you, who's seen it all.

He's experienced it all. Everything the world has to offer.

And what does this wise old man say?

Vanity of vanities all is vanity.

It's all in vain somehow. It's all hopeless.

Without purpose, all of our accomplishments, all of our achievements, all that we see and experience and take in in this world.

At the end of the day, all of it is vanity. All of it is useless.

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