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, we come to this great feast of the Holy Family,

which follows immediately upon Christmas.

And I think that juxtaposition itself is very interesting.

So the first Sunday after Christmas,

the church wants us to think about the Holy

family. Now, take it out of a merely sentimental context. I think there's a deeper theological reason.

The child has come. So the Christ child, the son of God, the Savior, but who comes as a little

baby, who therefore requires what?

The protection and nurturance of a family.

We're asked to think right away about those figures, Mary and Joseph,

who surround and protect this child.

Now, this will be of great spiritual significance for us,

because Christmas, as you know,

is finally about the birth of Christ in us. So what do we need to protect that Christ's child

...