This is Cardinal Francis George, and I invite you to join me for the next few minutes to reflect with Father Robert Baron on the Word of God, which is the Word on Fire.

Father Baron 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, who we might speak with love about the One who is Love.

The Archdiocese of Chicago through the generosity of Sacred Heart Parish in the neck that now presents the Word on Fire.

Peace be with you. Friends, today our first reading for Mass is taken from the book of the Prophet Jonah, which is one of my favorite books in the Bible.

So it gives me an excuse to talk about it.

The book of Jonah is a couple of pages in the Bible. You can read it easily in one sitting, a brief sitting.

So I recommend if you have a chance, sit down and just read through the book of the Prophet Jonah.

It's full of drama, it's full of human interest, and it's one of the funniest stories in the Bible.

Also, it's inspired so much commentary over the centuries. I mean from painters and from poets and so on.

One of the best commentaries on the book of the Prophet Jonah is in Moby Dick.

There's a great scene toward the beginning of Moby Dick when Father Mapple preacher comes out, and he stands in his pulpit which is shaped like the prowl of a ship,

and he gives a great sermon on the book of the Prophet Jonah to these sailors about to go off to sea.

So read that if you have a chance, but definitely read the book of the Prophet Jonah.

Why do I love it so much? Why have so many commentators and artists and poets loved it? Well, in a few pages, it summarizes beautifully the essential dynamics of the spiritual life.

How's it begin? Listen now. This is from our first reading for today.

The word of the Lord came to Jonah saying, set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announced to it the message, I will tell you.

Friends, in biblical religion, your life begins with a call.

If you look back at the ancient philosophers at Aristotle, at Seneca, and Cicero, and Plato, you'll find that the good person sets the tone for his own life.

He determines what he's going to do in light of certain great goals, and he says, here's the way my life is going to unfold.

It's not that way in biblical religion. In fact, just the opposite. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Peter, Paul, all the great figures are called by God.

They don't set the tone for their lives. It's not on their terms. Rather, they are summoned by God.

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