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, it's always with a kind of

relief that we return to ordinary time. Not that we don't savor the great holy seasons

of Lent and Easter, but we can handle only so much heightened consciousness and celebration.

This week we return to ordinary rhythms, to ordinary time. That's why it's so appropriate

that we find this gospel from the 11th chapter of Matthew as we make this return. For the

Lord is speaking here about some pretty basic stuff, some of the ordinary facts and truths

of the spiritual life. Matthew tells us that Jesus exalted in the Holy Spirit and said,

I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. For although you've hidden these

things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to little ones. What are

the things Jesus is talking about here? As he exalts in the Holy Spirit, it's one of the

few times we hear language as intense as that. Jesus just filled up with the Holy Spirit

overjoyed. What are the things he's talking about? I would say it's his whole spiritual

program, allowing the divine life to surge through us, participation in God's grace, conversion

and transformation in Christ. I mean that whole program, the heart and soul of Jesus teaching,

these are the things that are curiously unavailable to the wise and learned but available to little

...