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, so that 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, Jesus always had a hard time, with those who relied on their own power, and

consequently had a taste for lording it over others.

In the Gospel for today, taken from the 11th chapter of Matthew, we hear this.

Jesus exclaimed,

I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these

things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to little ones, yes, Father,

you have graciously wielded soul.

The wise and the clever, the learned, these somehow have not received the Word of wisdom,

but the simple, the unlearned, the children, they've received it.

Well, who are these wise and clever that Jesus seems to be going after here?

We hear about them often in the Gospel, the scribes, the Pharisees, the keepers of the

law.

If you will, the professional religious class, those who specialized in touting their own

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