Episode Details

Lent is a time where Catholics go "into the desert" and confront all the sins that keep us from perfect communion with God. We offer Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that we might be strengthened for our journey into the Divine Life. During this trial (and all trials), Catholics can take heart in the certain joy of Easter, the great Christian hope of the Resurrection. In this episode of the Word on Fire Show, Bishop Barron explains the hope on offer in Christianity and discusses how we can cling to this unique hope regardless of our circumstances. Finally, a listener asks how to cultivate an emotional connection with God.

Topics Discussed

• 0:17 – Intro and recap of the 2017 LA. Congress
• 2:30 - How would you define hope?
• 5:25 - What's the difference between hoping for something and placing your hope in something?
• 7:20 - Why is it important to put our hope in God?
• 10:0o - What about putting our hope in romantic love and family?
• 14:00 - If we put our hope in God, can we expect to get what we want from life?
• 15:40 - How does putting our hope in God change us?
• 18:20 - How is the Christian hope different from other religions?
• 19:55 - How does having a spirit of detachment allow you to find hope in Christ?
• 23:14 - How living a life of hope all comes down to love.
• 24:38 - Question from listener: How can one cultivate an emotional connection with God?

Bonus Resources

• Websites
  • LentReflections.com (free daily Lent reflections from Bishop Barron)
• Articles
  • What is Our Fundamental Problem? (Bishop Barron)
  • Saint of Light, Saint of Darkness (Bishop Barron)
• DVD's
  • Catholicism: The Pivotal Players (Word on Fire)
  • Catholicism series (Word On Fire)
  • Faith Clips (Word On Fire)
• Videos
  • Bishop Barron on Lent (Bishop Barron)
  • What are the Practices of Lent? (Bishop Barron)
  • Reflections on Lent (Bishop Barron)
  • Faith, Hope and Love (Bishop Barron)
• Books
  • Story of a Soul by Therese of Lisieux
  • The Priority of Christ by Bishop Barron
  • Word On Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ  by Bishop Barron
  • Catholicism by Bishop Barron
  • The Strangest Way by Bishop Barron
• Homilies
  • "The Virtue of Hope" (Bishop Barron)
  • "The Great Hope of Easter" (Bishop Barron)

Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.