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, we come to this first Sunday of Advent to the liturgical New Year.

And, you know, I've said this before, but Advent's a time to get back to basics.

Like an athlete returning, you know, to kind of the basic training.

Some of the most fundamental truths of our faith

are on display in these readings.

And so once again, it's good for us to enter into that space.

Can I suggest to you we start with that familiar Advent hymn

we're going to be singing it now for the next four weeks

all over the Catholic world.

It's an ancient hymn by the way. four weeks all over the Catholic world.

It's an ancient hymn, by the way.

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom,

captive Israel that

morns in lonely exile here until the son of God appear.

See, until we get into the spiritual space opened up by that hymn,

we are not understanding advent and more to it we are not

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