Spirit Juice is proud to present Reel Homilies from Father Tim Anastos, associate chaplain of the St. John Paul II Newman Center at the University of Illinois-Chicago. In these minute-long reflections, Father Tim will unpack the Sunday Gospel readings through the lenses of Church tradition, pop culture, and self-improvement. We hope these reflections serve to inspire your own thoughts on the Gospel and bring you closer to Christ…as well as bring a smile to your face.
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Humbling Ourselves
Jesus could have entered Jerusalem on a horse, the way powerful people did. Instead, He chose a donkey.
In this Sunday’s first reading, Zechariah prophesies that the Messiah will come riding on an ass, a sign of humility, not worldly power. Jesus shows us that true authority doesn’t come from status or force. It comes from service.
That’s the heart of Christian leadership: to serve, to humble ourselves, and to love even when love is difficult. If we want to be exalted with Christ, we first have to learn how to become servants.
Who Comes First?
The people we love should matter deeply, our family, our spouse, our friends, the people who need us. But in this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus asks a challenging question: who comes first?
When Jesus says that anyone who loves father or mother more than Him is not worthy of Him, He isn’t dismissing our relationships. He’s showing us the proper order of love. When Jesus is truly first, every other love in our life becomes rightly ordered.
So the question is simple but serious: is Jesus actually the center of your life? Family, comfort, plans, priorities. When everything is on the table, who wins? Don’t stand Him up.
Struggling with Anxiety?
Anxiety hates clarity. It thrives in vague fears, worst-case scenarios, and the thoughts we keep trapped in our minds until they start to feel like monsters.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells us not to be afraid because He is with us. He knows every fear, every anxious thought, and every hidden place in our hearts, and with Him, there is clarity and peace.
One simple step is to bring those fears into the light: write them down, name the worst-case scenario, and let Jesus meet you there. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Being in His presence is where anxiety begins to lose its grip.
Best Legacy To Leave Behind
This might be a hot take but the greatest compliment someone could give at your funeral might be this: “This person was in love with Jesus”
In this Sunday’s Gospel, the twelve apostles are named. We don’t know every detail about their lives, but what matters most is that they were friends of Jesus, and their love for Him changed the world.
All of us want to leave a legacy. But there may be no greater legacy than knowing Jesus, loving Him, and helping others come closer to Him. That kind of life echoes long after we’re gone.
Feeling Not Good Enough?
When we hear the lie, “I’m not enough”, it can start to feel true. Not good enough. Not smart enough. Not worthy enough.
But on the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Eucharist tells us something completely different. Your worth is one Eucharist. That is how deeply Jesus loves you, and that is what makes you enough.
In the Eucharist, Jesus doesn’t just give Himself to us, He receives us, all of us. So come to Him with your doubts, your wounds, and your whole heart, knowing that He is ready to receive you.
Most Holy Trinity
The Trinity can feel like a mystery that breaks your brain a little. Three Persons, one God, it’s the kind of truth that reminds us we’re dealing with something far bigger than ourselves.
But at the heart of the mystery is something beautifully simple: God is love. As Pope Benedict explained, God is not alone or isolated. He is eternal love, the lover, the beloved, and the love shared between them.
And that love is not distant. God gives Himself completely for us. The question is: if God has given Himself in love for you, how will you give yourself back to Him?
Light The World On Fire
Pentecost is not the moment the Church plays it safe. It’s the moment the Holy Spirit sends the apostles out to set the world on fire with the love of Jesus.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” That mission isn’t only for priests, missionaries, or “extra holy” people. It’s for every Christian, including you.
So the question is simple: are we talking about Jesus in our lives, or are we avoiding it? Pentecost reminds us that the Holy Spirit gives us the courage to stop staying quiet and start sharing the Gospel.
Pre-evangelization
Before anything can catch fire, the material has to be ready. You need something combustible, something prepared to receive the spark.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that the soil has to be ready before it can bear fruit. The same is true with evangelization. Before people are ready to hear the full message of the Gospel, their hearts are often prepared through goodness, truth, and beauty.
That’s the work of pre-evangelization, tilling the soil. When we promote truth, show goodness, and create beauty, we help prepare hearts to encounter Jesus and say yes to Him.