Juan Point at a Time

The prophets were challenging and our own response to those who challenge us prepares us for better or worse depending on how we practice responding.

When God calls us to something big, we usually have lots of questions. Is that a problem? This homily was given during a discernment retreat for the Society of Jesus. Lk 1:24-38

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Mt 25:14-30

Jesus is ascribed contemporary titles from ancient times… what titles might be applied today? And would you call him friend? Mt 16:13-23

In the Gospel reading on the feast of the transfiguration, Luke invites us to see the suffering, passion, and death of Christ from the perspective of heaven.

As always, Jesus wants us to avoid spiritual traps and see ourselves through the eyes of God our Father... especially when he's naming one woe after another! Luke 6:20-26

It is not uncommon to hear disparaging remarks about the Catholic faith and tradition today. Sometimes that creates a space for the evil spirit to get under our skin a bit. Year C - Ordinary Time - Week 3 Lk 4:14-21

Sometimes we keep ideas or graces that might have come from God to ourselves out of fear, but as always, God's invitation is not to fear.

God chose to enter straight into the world, straight into the messiness of our lives. Christmas Vigil Mass

One of the many ways we sometimes make a burden of life is presuming God is punishing us for some past transgression, when perhaps that is not a helpful question to even ask. Mt 11: 28-30

JBap is out preaching to himself and to others the same message, "Make way for the Lord." Year C - Advent - Week 2

Boy, what a confusing title for this episode, but it's accurate. The new liturgical year begins with readings that call to mind the Last Judgment. It is an invitation to make resolutions from a different perspective than usual... Year C - Advent - Week 1

Jesus sees the Israelites are pursuing peace where it will not be found and weeps for them. If only they had paused and noticed his visitation, they might have avoided a lot of tragedy. Lk 19:41-44

As always, God is on our side. In today's Gospel, Jesus addresses the tough topic of divorce and has some encouraging words about what we should expect marriage to do for us. Year B - Ordinary Time - Week 27

If we shut God down when the needs seem overwhelming, the story ends early. Year B - Ordinary Time - Week 17

What does Christ prioritize when time feels too short? Year B - Ordinary Time - Week 13

False prophets exist and will catch us at times, but recovery is always possible. Year 2 - Ordinary Time - Week 12 - Tuesday

Once again, Jesus is giving some practical advice and helps to hoping when we hit or get hit "below the belt." Ordinary Time - Week 12 - Tuesday

Sometimes the evil spirit presents us with no-win scenarios, that turns out are not no-win scenarios when Jesus enters the story.

When the future seems very unclear, it doesn’t mean that today we need feel lost. (Easter - Week 4 - Friday)

This homily was given at a mass where a major relic of Saint Jean de Brébeuf was present which is why the homily has so much to do with him.

One can sometimes doubt if Jesus desires our spiritual healing, but it is more likely that he is inviting us to take another step.

Jesus confronts an unclean spirit in today's Gospel, one which he easily casts out and a sort of spirit which each of us might need to be liberated from as well.

The prophetess Anna makes a cameo in today's Gospel and her history can prove a valuable, though simple, lesson.