This is Cardinal Francis George. I invite you to join me for the next two minutes to reflect

with Father Robert Barron on the Word of God, which is the Word on Fire. Word on Fire Catholic

Ministries is a non-profit ministry at the forefront of Catholic evangelization, using

new media to spread the faith and every continent. Father Barron challenges 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 so that we might speak with love about the one who

is love. The global benefactors of Word on Fire with the support of the Archdiocese of

Chicago now present Word on Fire.

Let me speak with you. Friends on this second Sunday of Easter, we continue to read in our

gospel from the magnificent 20th chapter of John's gospel. To read John's resurrection

accounts, read chapters 20 and 21 of his gospel. They are literary and theological masterpieces.

I've often said, even more than the other evangelists, St. John has a depth and a richness

of expression, and now we see it beautifully on display here. Listen to how this passage

begins. I'm the evening of that first day of the week. First day of the week, it's Easter

Sunday, it's Resurrection Day, and I mentioned last week that by saying first day of the week,

St. John's implying the day of new creation, because in the beginning, God created the heavens

and the earth. Now, the new beginning, everything being remade by Jesus risen from the dead.

So I'm at evening of the first day, even though the disciples had locked the doors of the

place where they were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood before them. The upper

room where they are locked in in fear, it is a great theological and spiritual symbol.

Christus, what do we do in sin? We lock ourselves in. My ego and its concerns, its projects

its little plans and tricks and games. I'm locked in around myself in fear, and I see

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