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 are

extended reading of the 6th chapter of John's gospel comes to a climax today

with verses 51 through 58. It just again I'd urge everyone listen to me is take

out your Bible and read through the 6th chapter of John which is a masterpiece

within the masterpiece and I'll come back to these pivotal verses in the course

of the Hamili but I want to begin with a glance at the magnificent first reading

for today. Take it from the book of Proverbs. The author Proverbs imagines the

wisdom of God as a woman preparing a banquet. She lays out the finest food and

drink and then I love this lavishly invites everyone listen she has sent out

her maidens she calls from the heights out over the city but whoever is simple

turn in here. It's wonderful it's the graciousness of the divine invitation.

Notice how how typically biblical this theme is. In so many other religions and

spiritualities the stress is placed on our quest for God. For God is imagined as

a difficult figure essentially out of reach unwilling to share his life.

Thomas Merton by the way called this the Promethean problem in religion in the

myth of Promethean stealing fire from the gods and then the gods are so enraged

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