Friends, for this Twenty-fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time, I want to focus on the first and second readings. When read together, they give us a very good sense of Catholic social teaching in regard to the question of power. The Church’s position here is a subtle one. It doesn’t demonize political and economic power; after all, God is described as all-powerful, ... Show More
Yesterday
The Dwelling Place of God
Friends, on this Fifth Sunday of Easter, there’s a somewhat hidden theme that runs like a golden thread through the readings, and that theme is the temple. To understand the New Testament texts, we have to see the importance of the Jerusalem temple for ancient Israelites. It was ... Show More
14m 56s
Apr 22
Cut to the Heart
Friends, all during the Easter season, we read from the Acts of the Apostles, and this Sunday, we hear part of Peter’s oration on Pentecost morning. His bold proclamation is, in a way, the mother of all sermons; it is the essence of authentic Christian preaching. Peter, filled wi ... Show More
14m 51s
Oct 2023
S 14 Ep 19: How do I Navigate Politics now that I am a Christian?
People often say the two topics we should avoid at the dinner table are religion and politics. In this episode, we talk about both. How should a new Christian, or an established one, think about politics? What does the Bible say about politics, human institutions, and governance? ... Show More
18m 47s
Aug 2023
WOF 401: A Theology of Work
<p>Friends, is work something good or bad? Is it central to being human, or a punishment resulting from sin? And how do we understand our work theologically, tying it to God?</p> <p>On today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show," Brandon Vogt and I discuss the Catholic Church's vi ... Show More
32m 31s
Feb 2025
Day 39: The Father Almighty (2025)
Together, with Fr. Mike, we explore the nature of God as Almighty. Fr. Mike discusses three important points to keep in mind about the reality of God’s power. The first is that God’s power is universal. God rules over everything; it is an infinite power. He is loving, he adopts u ... Show More
20m 12s
Jul 2024
Can't I Go Straight to Jesus? Do I Need the Catholic Church? [Fr. Mike Weighs In]
Maybe you've heard the phrase before, "the middleman is a lie." Or maybe you've found yourself wondering why we have an institutional church as Catholics when the Scriptures state clearly that there is only one mediator between God and man, namely Jesus Christ.
Today, Fr. Mike t ... Show More
8m 41s