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, the

readings for today are really magnificent and they are all about something

central to this spiritual life, namely fear. Now what do I mean? Well years ago I

was on a retreat and the retreat director said there are two basic questions

always to ask. First, what do you want? Deep down what do you want? Secondly, what

are you afraid of? Deep down. So we want all kinds of things but what is it that

finally and ultimately you want? That's a really clarifying question. Can I

propose it now to everyone listening? What are you looking for? You know when a

young kid would come to a Benedictine monastery, still true to this day and

in a more formal way but they'd be asked what do you seek? What do you want

here? But the second great clarifying question is what are you afraid of?

I'll get afraid of all sorts of things but deep down ultimately what are you

afraid of? In a way answering those two questions will tell you everything you

need to know about yourself spiritually speaking. So with that in mind let's

look at reading number one which is from the great prophet Jeremiah. Is there

anybody in the Old Testament more fascinating than Jeremiah who has given this

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