Word on fire is brought to you by Catholic cemeteries, serving the Chicago area since 1837.

This is Cardinal Francis George, and I invite you to join me for the next few minutes to

reflect with Father Robert Barron on the Word of God, which is the Word on fire.

Father Barron 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 Parish and Winetka, now presents

the Word on fire.

Peace be with you.

Friends, we come once more to this great spiritual season of Lent, a time of preparation, self-examination,

introspection.

You know, Lent is the earliest it's been since the mid-19th century, it's one of the earliest

Easter seasons we've had in a long time.

Well Lent is the time to do the hard work of the Spirit, the hard work of the Spirit.

If this seems strange or counterintuitive, just think of the numerous analogs in our

ordinary experience, athletes return year after year to training camp.

Even professional football players go back to the fundamentals every summer.

Baseball players, now as I record this homily, are about to return to spring training and

they once more go over how to swing the bat, how to throw the ball, how to hit the cutoff

man, they do the basics.

Musicians, even great high-level musicians, practice again and again, returning to the

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