WOF 029: What God's Mercy Really Entails

Pope Francis recently invited Bishop Barron to speak to hundreds of English-speaking priests at a gathering in Rome for the Jubilee Year of Mercy. In today’s episode, Bishop Barron reflects on the talk he shared with his fellow clergymen about Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well. From this account, he distills four major lessons on divine mercy. The listener question comes from a practicing Catholic in London who wonders whether a vigorous spiritual life is necessary if we are ultimately reconciled to God.

Topics Discussed

• 0:17 - Bishop Barron goes to Rome to talk about divine mercy
• 3:03 - How is God’s mercy relentless?
• 5:28 - How does the story of the woman at the well dismantle religious mythology?
• 8:01 - How is God’s mercy divinizing?
• 11:40 - Connections to marriage and the Old Testament
• 13:14 - What does “God became man that man might become God” actually mean?
• 16:11 - How is God’s mercy demanding?
• 20:01 - The vibrant paradox of extreme demands, extreme mercy
• 22:34 - How is God’s mercy a summons to mission?
• 25:30 - The highest life is a summons to Mission
• 26:42 - Question from listener: Why bother engaging in the spiritual life?

Bonus Resources

• Videos

• Bishop Barron on Extreme Demands, Extreme Mercy (Bishop Barron)

• Bishop Barron on Pope Francis and Mercy (Bishop Barron)

• The Best Thing You Can Do in the Year of Mercy (Bishop Barron)

• Bishop Barron on Pope Francis’ “Amoris Laetitia” (Bishop Barron)

• Articles

• Pope Francis and True Mercy (Bishop Barron)

• 4 Lessons on Divine Mercy from the Woman at the Well

• Homilies

• Divine Mercy

• Extreme Demand, Extreme Mercy

• A God of Relentless Mercy

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