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.

Peace be with you. Friends, our reading for today, our reading for today, prompt me to

speak of the great yes and the great no principle. Let me say it again. At the heart of

Catholic spirituality is a great yes to the world and a great no to the world. Getting

that right is very tricky. Getting that paradox properly balanced is the key to understanding

a lot about Catholic theology and spirituality. Now, what do I mean if I say the great yes

and the great no? The world matter, nature, planet earth, the whole universe is good. Book

of Genesis couldn't be clearer. God made all these things and found them good. He found

the universe in his totality very good. Here, Catholic spirituality holds off all forms

of puritanism, of manachiasm, of gnosticism. Any attempt to denigrate the world, to denigrate

matter or the body, the Catholic Church holds that off. In the measure, the creation participates

in the goodness of God. We should say yes to it. Wherever the Catholic sun does shine,

there's music and laughter and good red wine. He'll air Belach's famous couplet. Reflects

this great Catholic optimism. The affirmation of the world. Now, go to fire with this principle,

what do you get? Will you get, I suppose, hedonism of this worldly preoccupation? If I simply

...