WOF 107: Jesus vs. Caesar

Merry Christmas! In today’s episode, Bishop Barron walks us through the second chapter of Luke’s Gospel, which recounts the birth of Jesus. As we see, this story is far from a safe, charming fairy tale. It tells the story of a new king, one who rivals the kingship of Caesar Augustus at every turn. A listener asks what St. John of the Cross meant by “the divine sweetness.”

Topics Discussed

• 0:04 - Introduction: The fires of Southern California
• 2:40 - Why is “subversive” a good word for the Nativity narrative?
• 4:40 - What is the importance of the census in the Christmas story?
• 6:40 - Why does Luke begin the story by mentioning the great figures of the time?
• 8:00 - What is the significance of the “line of David”?
• 9:55 - What is the symbolic nature of there being no room at the inn, Jesus being wrapped in swaddling clothes, and Jesus being placed in a manger?
• 18:08 - What’s the significance of the angels and shepherds?
• 25:50 - How were the Gospel writers spiritual and literary masters?
• 27:35 - Listener question: How do we dialogue with someone who creates their own personal religion?