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 so that we might speak with

love about the one who is love.

The Archdiocese of Chicago through the generosity of Sacred Heart Parish in Winnetka

now presents the word on fire.

Peace be with you. Friends, everybody loves the charming story that is our first reading for this

week. The story of the call of young Samuel. You know the story well. The child who hears the voice of the Lord,

but doesn't fully understand, the master, Eli, who patiently coaches him in the way of the Lord,

this awakening of prophecy in Israel after a long period of dormancy. It's a beautiful, charming story. I remember when

I was going through the seminary, it was often told in connection with spiritual direction and

discernment of vocation and so on. But you know what? Once we know the backstory of this little

tale, things get a little more complicated, a little less romantic.

And this story, I think you'll agree with me, becomes surprisingly relevant to our times.

What's the back story?

Well, Eli, was the chief priest at the temple at Shiloh?

Mind you, this was before the Jerusalem temple was built under Solomon, who is David's son.

So we're an earlier version of the temple in Shiloh.

Eli is supervising the work of his two sons, Phineas and Hoffney.

Now, Eli was, according to the Bible, a relatively devout man, but he was lazy and unfocused. And he was an especially bad supervisor of

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