5 Reasons to Be Hopeful in the New Year

[@rg753lhgl]

To me it seems like faith and religion are growing. So much of it is attributable to Bishop Barron, Fr. Mike Schmitz, and other outstanding priests and religious podcasters who are consistently uploading great videos, explaining the faith, and inspiring us all by bringing us closer to Jesus Christ.

[@palex313]

Dr Hahn's speech on his conversion from a protestant background is what got me over the river and follow my heart.

[@maryannlanger3318]

I think Father Mike Schmitz and his #1 podcast Bible In A Year has done more to encourage Bible sales than anyone. His commentaries made it possible for me and many others to understand the Bible for the first time. Jeff Cavins Ascension Bible used was also really helpful. Found it interesting Bishop Barron didn’t mention this.

[@palex313]

@@maryannlanger3318 Yeah I am doing the Catechism in a year currently (day 4)

[@sukienukie551]

Wonderful and engaging discussion as always! My interest in Catholicism was also piqued by Jordan Peterson and his amazing presentations and debates. And then by his wonderful wife Tammy. I’m fascinated!! And I’m becoming Catholic! Baptism scheduled for 2025!

[@Bruised-Not-Broken]

I stay away from Jordan Peterson. I find him too bitter and harsh to add real value to the conversation. Sometimes I wish Bishop Barron would refrain from engaging with figures like JP-it feels a bit like chasing them down “just” because they are have a few minutes of fame and can speak somewhat articulately about religious issues.

[@sukienukie551]

@ I don’t find JP to be that way at all. He’s incredibly intelligent and emotionally intelligent too. They both have very interesting discussions.

[@margokupelian344]

I don’t blame JP for sounding “bitter.” People don’t like to hear the truth bc it tastes extremely bitter in our days. Our world is crumbling down, there’s nothing to hold on to, it’s a chaos, and you’re expecting him to be positive and tell you everything looks okay? Here Bishop Barron is speaking about hope which is only attainable to people of faith and I’m sure JP agrees with it.

[@annakau1]

Congratulations!!!!

[@bootsestrada7561]

Will pray for you.

[@PoeticArt]

A bible left in a laundry, with the word hope in Jesus, changed my life.

[@phyllisjackson4322]

There are no coincidences.❤

[@christinacascadilla4473]

Sorry!

[@Ernie-y2b]

In my life as catholic I have heard my different Bishops give sermons. Bishop Barron is by far the best. He is very analytical, and uses examples of faith from the different saints. He is able to break things down so everyone can understand. Thank you Bishop Barron and Merry Christmas.

[@WeddingVideographerMelbourne]

Thank God for Jordan Peterson, and I mean that very literally. He and Jonathan Pageua were the two people who cracked open my atheism and lead me back to the church

[@DenisOhAichir]

He (Peterson) is definitely influential but don't knock your own God given grace to reason without that you never would have listened in the first place. Avf Maria happy Christmas

[@cindymielke9240]

I totally agree

[@cindymielke9240]

Wokeism is si anti Christ

[@aaronlanda8077]

My mother asked me a week ago if she could borrow one of my Bibles. So I bought her one as a gift. She is reading it for the first time in her life at 64 years old.

[@gregfarrelly8377]

God bless your fellowship and unity God willing in reading the bible together

[@JesseCarnevale]

God bless. Brings me joy to hear these words.

[@cindymielke9240]

That's beautiful.🙏🏼

[@Jordonwilliamoakley]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@gerir4386]

Praised be Jesus Christ! Now & forever.

[@BrieCracker]

There is so much hope. Waking up from sleep walking through life in sin is liberating once you've pushed through the discomfort of realizing how you've lived was offensive to He who loves you the most. Thank God for guiding me to push through the discomfort of admitting my sins and welcoming me back to the Holy Catholic Church after 40 years.

[@jeffseng6385]

My brother turned back to faith as he witnessed the evil that is so prevalent today. He said that evil is obviously real so I thought God must be real too.

[@danielmaclellan2117]

He said that evil is obviously real so I thought God must be real too. wow what a true statement!

[@carakerr4081]

Thank you Bishop Barron. The Lord has been waking me up early each morning to pray 3 rosaries onna walk with your KZbin rosaries. It’s been wonderful. Thank you for all that you do God bless you all at Word of Life Happy New Year!

[@nicksibly526]

BB always fills me with hope.

[@fennycruz6714]

merry Christmas bishop Barron and Word on Fire! God bless one and all, a HOPE that grows in strength to strngth...Mary Mother of God, pray for us.

[@colourfulspiritart6295]

I have been taking care of elderly for many years. Also doing volunteering to help the unplanned pregnancy mums. Sometimes I do feel the challenges and discouragement while serving in the community. Our Lady reminded me that like St Joseph & her are looking for a place to stay but no one welcome them. Without feeling discouraging, our Lady & St Joseph continues trusting in God for the preparation of Christ's birth who is our saviour. Our Lady who is our mother has brought hope and love of Christ to her children in the world that we all can reach heaven (home) safely. This is the meaning of Christmas that He Loved us!

[@carakerr4081]

What a beautiful ministry you have God bless you 🙏❤️🙏

[@MsSeeker4ever]

As I've always felt, hope, which indeed is difficult to describe, is a feeling that comes out of deep faith with a sigh of relief and strong trust in the power of God that everything will be fine. And eventually, everything will be fine. Catholicism is a powerful faith and with it comes all those powerful feelings of relief.

[@neildavidvandenbergh5422]

It's interesting because I usually learn something that I didn't know before, or at least get what I thought I knew completely, rightly adjusted, within the first sixty seconds or so of listening to Bishop Barron address a topic like this! 😂 Matthew, you and the team are fantastic as well brother! God bless you richly 🙏🏼♥️ - Neil David Vandenbergh

[@Heartof_Prayer]

Beautiful reminders to focus on the good and trust in God’s plans 🌿🕊 Here’s to a year filled with hope, growth, and blessings!

[@felicitygrace5113]

Great conversation! My word of the Year 2025 is Hope. ❤

[@PuyaR-pl7jt]

Thanks to dear B.Barron for this excellent & clarifying talk.

[@mary-loucleveland6991]

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE WOKE IDEA CLEAR AND HOW DISRUPTIVE IT HAS BEEN

[@raymond.mcdannell6317]

So glad I watched this. The Bishop is an amazing speaker. I got more out of watching this than sitting in church. But it’s fulfilling and needed. Thank you, New Hampshire

[@Paradise-x4m]

Many parishes in India are taking up the BIY challenge by Ascension and Fr. Mike Schmitz, so we went out to acquire different Bibles. I have five Bibles now and completed the BIY in 2024. Hoping the challenge will continue and millions of Bibles continue to be sold. God bless all the efforts at online evangelism. Thank you Bishop Barron, I learned a lot from you.

[@JoeF-nr6jq]

Thanks so much for these reasons for true supernatural hope! I am often pessimistic about the church world with so many church going Catholics who think “it’s all good” about couples living together and supporting any type of “marriage “ and sexuality. Too many priests are aloof of the deep spiritual struggles of their flock. But hopeful remnants will persist and thrive, I hope!

[@Raulgrump]

Bishop I love your response to Jose's question about how to pray. Spot on!

[@ceciliadreger6319]

The hope from God is a gift for me to endure challenges, and persevere through hardships in my life. I always lie about God's hope and His son Jesus Christ's security which is always full of redemption for all the souls. I feel safe to face adversity especially when I think that my life is getting harder because I am worried and fearful that I have not done well with my friends and relatives. The love of God and my hopes improve my immune system in decreasing my stress and pain. All my suffering continues to give me the courage hope and confidence to cope with some other chronic illnesses in my body and keep me going to become more resilient. I need to have faith in my life and be faithful to God as well. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in this Merry Christmas season. Prince of Peace, pray for us. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. St. Joseph, pray for us. St. Sarah, pray for us. St. Matthew, pray for us. St. Anne, pray for us. St. Pope John Paul, pray for us. Jesus, I trust, in You!!! Cecilia Dreger and family(✨️📽❤️‍🔥) Bishop Thomas Daly.

[@Vicky-rz8dd]

🙏I put all my Faith, Trust and Hope in God! God is pure Love!

[@damienhunt4264]

We need to be clear that while we respect everyone's right to follow whatever religion they want to, let's not bend over backwards in the name of co-operation with those who do not follow the one true faith of Roman Catholicism.

[@ephemeralvapor8064]

As with all things, there's a narrow way, and that way is full of grace. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. (Mat 5:41) How does this apply to reconciliation? For each person it depends on their strength and gifts. May more become embodiments of: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. (Mat 5:9) ...and all the beatitudes. God bless

[@mariadjehatu6002]

Hopeful for New Year, Thank you Bishop Barron

[@ceecee5567]

The world is crying out for a reason to hope. I would love to see more discussions lifting us up to hope.

[@rg753lhgl]

I love these discussions between Matthew P. and Bishop Barron. Can I request that we have a greater number of these discussions in 2025? I think one discussion every 2 weeks would be great.

[@peterv7258]

One might say that hope is the ability to maintain faith and the virtues in one's behavior even without the consolation of God's providence creating material comforts or spiritual signs. Speaking as someone who has definitely experienced God blessing me and answering prayers I pray that if I ever have to face such deprivation that God will strengthen me.

[@therealong]

*Merry **_Holy_** Christmas!*

[@SolidWorksAcademy01]

🌈 "Absolutely brilliant! You’ve outdone yourself! ⏰ Don’t miss this gem!"

[@debbiegraham5585]

Thank you ❤️

[@ChemaliH]

I like the new setting of the show. The new interviewer is also much convenient, sober, more respectful.. something was not right with the old one. Thank you for all those changes and keep up.

[@DescriptionofHeaven-uf7hl]

Good morning everyone Thank the Lord for this new day 🙏🏽

[@Harriette99]

First, a big THANK YOU to Bishop Barron and the team. I am a native speaker of Chinese and I've always wanted to share Bishop Barron's videos with my friends but most of them know little English. I am hoping if your team would consider to provide chinese subtitles someday so that these bright insights could reach out to more people. Thank you again, Merry Christmas!

[@ceciliadreger6319]

I'm going through catholicism. You are hoping for your actions rather than God's grace which is considered not safe. It's a serious sin as it involves your inner feelings that could be losing your faith in God's mercy and goodness. I wish you on Christmas Day that your hope will transform into joy and start practicing your behavior into gratitude for what you already have. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

[@christinelivebird]

❤ merry Christmas!!!

[@sukienukie551]

This is up to KZbin as the provider of the subtitles.

[@tamibonestudio]

What a great idea for sharing the message of hope with your friends who don’t speak English. I hope this becomes available soon

[@ceciliadreger6319]

@tamibonestudio I'm not available to attend church tonight, I'm watching the New York Jets.

[@ca7354]

Hope is knowing and living according to Truth.

[@Reginacaoile]

Praise be Jesus Christ Thanks be to God and thank you father

[@jonanasingwirek3585]

Thanks a lot Bishop. It's amazing how you unpack such a complex subject for all to relate with.

[@franciscavarpit6554]

Profoundly sound . Thank you Host and Arch Bishop Baron for this wonderful coverage. Merry Christmas🙏

[@MariaBernadineChukwu]

Merry Christmas 🎄 and a prosperous New Year, Bishop 🎄🎄🎄🙏🙏🙏!

[@rosellaguajardo7301]

Hope is more than wishing. Faith is more than trust. Love is more than kindness. Natural reason is its foundation. But they go beyond it.

[@flordgold356]

Can my hope feelings make me optimistic? I think so ❤

[@cristinanieto683]

Beautiful answer to Jose! Just pray.

[@Waltraud-je4mp]

Feliz Navidad para todos ustedes. Espero con impaciencia su próximo sermón dominical. Bendiciones

[@wendyfield7708]

Thank you. Excellent.

[@anneturner2759]

The poetry of art is in beholding the single tower, the poetry in nature is the single tree, the poetry of love following the single woman, the poetry of religion is following the single star . G. K. Chesterton Merry Christmas, and thank you …

[@johnjheydt2678]

brilliant !!

[@a.f.4087]

Main reasons: We are alive and God loves us! Merry Christmas to all!!

[@valeriocritelli6714]

Discussing the theological virtue of hope is very important and necessary in order to understand the higher dimension of life

[@nathanngumi8467]

Word. I wish you all a blessed Christmas and a fruitful 2025.

[@rg753lhgl]

Thanks. God bless you and Merry Christmas!

[@avs2966]

Amen

[@lcojom36]

Merry Christmas to the Word on Fire team!!

[@PiaSillankorvs]

Word on Fire Team Merry Christmas and Happy New Year❤😂

[@Vsapph11]

I would like to ask Bishop Barron to lead a pilgrimage.

[@carakerr4081]

That would be amazing!!

[@DenisOhAichir]

I can't imagine not being hopeful given the Gospel, even if that doesn't sway one then Eucharistic Miracles are enough to show one that Catholicism is the key to eternal life.

[@tomsmith3269]

im hopeful because of robert barron. he changed my life. thank you

[@mohitoautomaciek801]

🤝👍wielkie👍PiĘĆ👍DZiĘKUjĘ👍Bless4allYA👍🤝

[@carlosmuro6131]

God is good! Merry Christmas to all!

[@MartinMartin-mu2qj]

the souls, the creatures of God the Creator, who go through our decisive test housed in bodies, in matter, receive Goodness among all Goodness, the Prince of Peace, our promised King, the Son of the Most High Today the Liberation begins among all the Liberations, we are offered to raise our heads before our Most High Creator, Father of God Christ, and Father of every creature worthy of HIM HE, paying the price for us, offers to make us worthy of our Eternal Creator. Tonight our Savior is born, our Good Shepherd, tonight our Liberation from the clutches of pride begins. HE is the Innocent among all the Innocents, HE is the New Alliance of God the Creator with His creatures, and with those who will be His children in the brief decisive battle. "Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace to men of good will."

[@PuyaR-pl7jt]

The ultimate of all«counterfeit» ones takes Its ultimate shot by whispering in my ear: See! Ultimately you’re gonna end up being “hopeless” even in the Heaven , so why do it in a hard way, "abandon all your hope” right now & follow me down the Pit! My yoke too is light, as light as Fire! /// (BUT THAT WOULD BE THE ULTIMATE OF NAIVETY if one thinks the ultimate Tempter has run out of all Its attempts )

[@michaelfrank2266]

re: Prayer question. There is no greater prayer than to pray for your wife or husband. God has always heard the prayers from my wife on my behalf.

[@Bruno69847]

Bishop Barron is going to be our new pope? 😊

[@firebreathingrubberducky5621]

Go Cubs! 😁

[@StPetersAnglicanChurch-j3q]

Glad the bishop has upgraded Jordan Peterson from earlier dismissal as typical “gnostic” to “my friend”. But even more glad that JP has made a lot of progress toward true faith. Let iron sharpen iron!

[@WilliamNobleBonninActual]

Realized my confirmation name. Thank you Father

[@jimluebke3869]

"Hopeful but not optimistic" One of CS Lewis's more memorable characters, Puddleglum the Marshwiggle, comes to mind here.

[@thisis_chavez]

I always pray that I become a successful Catholic Social Media Influencer to spread the teachings and Revelations of the Catholic Church and the entire Christendom. I hope and pray the Devotion to the Eucharist and the Holy Souls in Purgatory helps me. In your charity, lets all pray 7 Hail Mary for the propagation of all Catholic Teachings and for the success of all Catholic Social Media Influencer that all may be guided by the Holy Trinity, Holy Family, all Great Saints, and Angels

[@jeffreymasse6811]

BB, Great show! Question: we are to be a people who share hope with others. How does one share/give hope to another? What does this look like?

[@derekstephens6768]

Hope is an unconditional Divine gift. Why would you refuse a gift ?

[@imnotanalien7839]

So God created man in his own image… Genesis 1:27 Doesn’t that mean limitless potential and therefore reason to always be hopeful? We can always find things to be hopeful about. ❤️✝️ 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 Merry Christmas everyone!!

[@eugenejuma2464]

QUESTION: HOW CAN I REMAIN BOTH HOPEFUL AND INDIFFERENT? ISN'T THIS LIKE CONTRADICTION??

[@gregfarrelly8377]

Hoping in something

[@riccky707]

Before the end of the year I highly recommend everyone read Your Life Your Game by Keezano. It beautifully shows how connecting with God and building meaningful relationships can lead to spiritual growth and success in both your personal and professional life. This book truly changed my life..a must-read. God bless all people💗

[@Enna_Willkins]

awesome

[@maryellenatwood8909]

I grew up as a Catholic in Milwaukee and we were told that anyone else was not going to heaven.

[@alicerobertson699]

Thank you

[@DUY-gs8qb]

good

[@PuyaR-pl7jt]

Seems some of militant None guys have reached & conquered the peak of their Mission Impossible & found out there is nothing in the Landscape at the other side of the peak but Gehenna , «gazing back at them»! 😀…,

[@papisoros1506]

We are a foolish generation, of sinning and for sinning. Let us implore God the Creator to humbly analyze our decisions and their consequences, and therefore repent, confess them, and begin to make the Blessed decisions in the time we have left to Live in them. This is a land to be sown, and by what grows in us, we will be Judged before our Creator, the Eternal Present, His Most High Son, and by the sacred Paraclete. There is no small decision when it's Santa. Let us give thanks to the Happy angels, those who call God, Who alone is God, in the truth of his words is his own happiness.

[@debbiefurtado9780]

Hope is the ordering toward an ultimate end. Hope, love and faith go together. Hope conditions our decisions.❤❤❤

[@thenfppodcast]

My son sent in a question a month ago…he keeps asking me if Bishop Barron has answered it 😂 Are you all planning another kids q&a soon?

[@LucyDeCastro-i4q]

Good day. How can I get a Word on Fire bible in Windhoek Namibia?

[@Raulgrump]

Where can I get a Word on Fire Bible? I have a Spanish copy of the Vulgate, but I need a good catholic Bible. Im a UMC protestant, and our bible is missing some books that the catholic bible has.

[@hazzatube7505]

please, please please Good men - can someone please get Jordan Peterson, Bishop Barron and Gil Bailie together to discuss the work of Rene Girrard.

[@ignatiusTH2]

A merry Christmas to you gentlemen from us here in Ireland

[@chrisoleary9876]

Nollaig shona daoibh!

[@Khajiitt]

Let us build the city of God.

[@0_3_6_9_0]

Thank you Bishop Barron, for elevating Christ consciousness 🧘‍♂️

[@feiyon7694]

hope, trust in god plan

[@arashikagehayabusa2910]

Wokeism is trying to jump to Japan by their government's invitation to support declining birth rates and improve their economy. While there may be a receding of wokeism in the states, please pray for Japan that they will avoid being forced to adopt it in their culture and entertainment. Especially as the amount of Catholic influence in Japan is so small at the moment.

[@juanloprada]

Is it a sin to ask for self disappearance? I am exhausted of living and and I would hate resurrection. I am trying for acceptance of my failures and misfits. I have lived as an invisible creature to be not a disturbance for my community and I helped in anonymous way. But I can’t go on living or go on after my death. I need that God’s favor: to extend my lifetime/consciousness the less possible, to delete my soul. I gave my body for forensic schools so that nobody got to waste money with my corpse. But I see myself as an evolution mistake and you know… I don’t want to comeback even in heaven. I need some light. I beg to Lord and I don’t get any answer. Surely it is my fault but I don’t wanna offend my Lord

[@HumorNWaffles]

"So Bishop, what are your thoughts on the White Sox?"

[@ShellyCendall]

My hope is in you Father God 🙏 Hope for a better future 🙏 Amen God bless you Bishop Barron

[@papisoros1506]

May God the Creator forgive us, for the time He was without the presence of His Most High Son, for our sake. Mother of Christians, Pray for us. Mother of Good Example, Pray for us. May we false Christians diminish in great numbers, and may the true Confessors of the Faith in God Christ, the True God and Son of God, the Just among the Just, be many more. May Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, his little father, Saint Francis of Assisi, together with Saint Clare and Saint Agnes, Evangelize barren Europe again. May with his love for the Truth in His Justice, even us, blind and deaf from worldliness, be, in spite of ourselves, Evangelized again.

[@chrisoleary9876]

Shout out from the Coastal South Carolina Lowcountry! Merry Christmas!

[@anneturner2759]

Shout out back , from Montreal Canada , merry Christmas

[@ks2de]

Reading the bible requires instruction. If someone gives you a Calculus book, you can read it and try and figure it out yourself, but you will likely be left confused and bored. If someone who wrote the book gives you instruction and insight, then it can be exciting and make sense. Same with the Holy Bible. Seek instruction from someone who has been instructed by the ones who wrote it.

[@BrieCracker]

I'm enjoying Father Mikes 'Catechism and Bible in a Year' on the Hallow app, it's been helpful as I have a learning disorder.. so reading along while listening and then his summary after helps cement teachings for me.

[@Eduvalerac]

Por que Notre deam tiene estatuas con perros de 3 cabezas y cabezas de cerdos?

[@therealong]

"Notre Deam" ? No, it's *Notre Dame!*

[@BruceReyes-nh9cu]

Think neutral. Be neutral. Act neutral.

[@kathleenoneillbenshila855]

I do t know when this episode was taped, but I was hoping to hear in this Christmas season that Jesus’ birthplace in Bethlehem is under Israeli occupation and Palestine is being bombed with bombs provided by America. Di I have hope? Yes my hope is that Jesus will return or send someone who can protect the people of Palestine from extermination. Please Jesus help them

[@EdwardCala]

Why the use of such obtrusive microphones?

[@ceecee5567]

The world is crying out for a reason to hope. I would love to see more discussions lifting us up to hope.

[@VickyBantaChrist]

G😍🇺🇸🙏🌏