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, who we might speak with love

about the one who is love.

The Archdiocese of Chicago through the generosity of Sacred Heart Parishing Winnetka now presents

the Word on Fire.

Peace be with you, friends, today in our readings we're looking at this old and vexing

problem of religious corruption, corruption in religious leaders.

Now I don't have to tell you that this is rather relevant to our time.

We're living through a time of rather well-publicized corruption among religious leaders.

In some ways the gospel for today is one that preachers and ministers and priests have

to preach to themselves, because it's Jesus railing against various corruptions, dangers,

pitfalls that religious leaders typically have.

Let me reach you a little bit from this gospel of Matthew.

Jesus spoke to the crowds into his disciples saying, the scribes and the Pharisees have

taken their seat on the chair of Moses, therefore do and observe all things whatsoever they

tell you, but do not follow their example.

For they preach, but they do not practice.

They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people's shoulders, but they

will not lift a finger to move them.

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