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, to that we might speak with

love about the One who is love.

The Archdiocese of Chicago through the generosity of Sacred Heart Parishing Winnicka now presents

the Word on fire.

Peace be with you, friends.

Today we celebrate the great feast of Christ the King, and the gospel given to us by the

church is the story of Christ's confrontation with Pontius Pilate.

You know, an issue that our present Pope, Benedict XVI, finds extremely important.

Is the relationship between the Christian religion and modern democracy.

As Cardinal Ratzinger, he wrote extensively on this subject over many years, and his

even now made it central to his concerns as Pope.

Here's the difficulty as Benedict XVI sees it, especially in the wake of the great totalitarianisms

of the 20th century.

Some theorists of democracy, some political philosophers, hold that any claim to absolute

truth is inimical to the exercise of real freedom.

They mean that whenever a group or individual claims to know the truth, this will be threatening

to the freedom of others.

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