Juan Point at a Time
By Juan P Ruiz
I am a Jesuit priest in the Roman Catholic Church. This podcast is a collection of my best homilies thus far... plus some of the rest. (Feel free to be the judge of that.) My focus is often on spiritual insights that are gleaned from the readings or the occasion being celebrated. May it bring some reprieve and encouragement for the journey. :D
Juan Point at a TimeOct 24, 2023
00:00
06:57
Woes to Freedom
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
Feb 16, 202506:00
Lie #22 of the Evil Spirit - If I don't defend my faith in public, I'm a bad Catholic.
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
Jan 27, 202507:33
Sharing the Graces God Gives Us
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.
Dec 28, 202405:60
Embracing the Messiness
God chose to enter straight into the world, straight into the messiness of our lives.
Christmas Vigil Mass
Dec 26, 202406:36
The Yoke Made Easier
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
Dec 15, 202402:04
Hiding from Forgiveness
JBap is out preaching to himself and to others the same message, "Make way for the Lord."
Year C - Advent - Week 2
Dec 12, 202405:59
Liturgical New Year's Resolutions
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
Dec 01, 202405:22
Pausing for Peace
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
Nov 23, 202404:54
Marriage is meant to Soften our Hearts
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
Oct 09, 202405:26
Not Shutting Down God
If we shut God down when the needs seem overwhelming, the story ends early. Year B - Ordinary Time - Week 17
Aug 03, 202410:08
When time seems too short
What does Christ prioritize when time feels too short? Year B - Ordinary Time - Week 13
Jul 03, 202406:31
False Prophets exist, but God and goodness will not fail us
False prophets exist and will catch us at times, but recovery is always possible. Year 2 - Ordinary Time - Week 12 - Tuesday
Jun 27, 202404:27
Hitting Below the Belt
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
Jun 25, 202404:38
No-Win Scenarios
Sometimes the evil spirit presents us with no-win scenarios, that turns out are not no-win scenarios when Jesus enters the story.
Jun 05, 202405:05
We Know the Way
When the future seems very unclear, it doesn’t mean that today we need feel lost. (Easter - Week 4 - Friday)
Apr 26, 202404:32
Entering into the Wilderness
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.
Feb 22, 202409:34
Of course I will it. Be healed.
One can sometimes doubt if Jesus desires our spiritual healing, but it is more likely that he is inviting us to take another step.
Feb 12, 202408:44
Attitudes That Harm Us
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.
Jan 30, 202408:03
A Cameo Worth Noting
The prophetess Anna makes a cameo in today's Gospel and her history can prove a valuable, though simple, lesson.
Dec 30, 202305:36
How to Grow in Wisdom
You know wisdom when you see it, but how do we grow in it?
Year A - Ordinary Time - Week 32
Nov 20, 202307:34
What is My Price of Admission?
Without even realizing it, we may sometimes be charging Christ a price of admission into our hearts. And there's a simple question way to figure out what that price might be.
Year 1 - Ordinary Time - Week 31 - Thursday
Nov 10, 202305:26
Preparing a Room for the Guest
Jesus invites us to develop routines that keep us open to his Spirit and remain faithful to them.
Year 1 - Ordinary Time - Week 29 - Tuesday
Nov 06, 202303:33
A Litmus Test for our Relationship with God
Jesus opens the eyes of the Pharisees in today's readings with a litmus test that we can apply to our own lives.
Year A - Ordinary Time - Week 30
Oct 29, 202307:37
North American Martyrs sacrificing for the sake of the Gospel
Today is a memorial of 8 Jesuits who were martyred in North America and their witness can still be a model for us today, even in a context which lacks the violence of their time.
Memorial of the North American Martyrs
Oct 24, 202306:57
Start Praying Right Where You Find Yourself... and Don't Stop
Today's reading offers some suggestions from Jesus on prayer.
Ordinary Time - Week 27 - Thursday
Oct 13, 202305:45
Christ has resolutely set himself on our hearts
Jerusalem is a city, but also a symbol. Luke is well aware of what he is doing when writes that Christ determined to go there.
Year 1 - Ordinary Time - Week 26 - Tuesday
Oct 05, 202304:17
Lord, I am not worthy you should enter under my roof.
Unworthiness can be a rather distasteful concept in popular culture, but they are valued within our Christian tradition. So much so that we repeat it every mass... Why?
Year 1 - Ordinary Time - Week 24 - Monday
Sep 21, 202304:23
God sees us first
Today's Gospel is about an encounter between Philip, Jesus, and Nathaniel. As always, God takes the lead.
Feast of Saint Bartholomew
Aug 24, 202303:01
Decide in neither Desolation nor Jubilation
Saint Ignatius offers guidelines for the discernment of spirits in his spiritual writings. If I could add one thing with confidence thus far, it would be the simple reminder in this homily.
Year 1 - Ordinary Time - Week 17 - Saturday
Aug 07, 202305:04
Two Criteria for Companions on our Spiritual Journeys
This homily was given to high school freshman at the end of their orientation.
Year 1 - Ordinary Time - Week 17 - Friday
Aug 06, 202306:26
Accepting as God does
We can easily get lulled into one extreme or another when it comes to accepting others. Jesus wants to free us to love others just as he has loved us.
Year A - Ordinary Time - Week 13
Jul 10, 202306:52
3 Perspectives on Meaning in the Universe
Jesus speaks with metaphor about how the body is illumined or darkened by what we believe to be out there in the world - and tracking how different worldviews perceive meaning can help us understand our own perspective.
Year 1 - Ordinary Time - Week 11 - Friday
Jul 03, 202303:37
Telling Lies Telling Small Little Lies
Sometimes we tell lies to avoid a storm, but it erodes our integrity and becomes self-defeating. Jesus gives us the best reason not to do so.
Year A - Ordinary Time - Week 12
Jun 27, 202307:41
Keep Holy Those Sacred Spaces
Like an expectedly intense liturgist, Jesus unexpectedly draws our attention to sacred spaces. How much do I do to maintain my own?
Year 1 - Ordinary Time - Week 08
Jun 19, 202305:48
Get over thyself, my friend.
Jesus points Peter three times beyond himself, and, Saint Philip Neri, who is celebrated on this memorial, is one example of what that can look like.
Memorial of Saint Philip Neri
Easter - Week 07 - Friday
Jun 12, 202304:57
God has judged the world.
God has judged the world and in response He gave his only Son.
Year A - Ordinary Time - Week 09
Jun 05, 202305:32
Jesus had to leave.
Jesus didn't want us creating more division or setting ourselves against each other, that's why he had to leave. The unity Jesus wants is Catholic, universal.
Solemnity of the Ascension
May 21, 202305:29
Judas Sullied What Jesus Washed
Jesus teaches us a small lesson on how to respond to those whose betrayal is pending. It is a small lesson to learn, but very difficult lesson to practice.
Easter - Week 05 - Thursday
May 14, 202303:09
Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and the Life
Jesus refers to an often-heard and often-misunderstood or not-understood phrase in today's reading. This homily is a bit of unpacking of that phrase.
Year A - Easter - Week 05
May 07, 202345:08
We already know the Good Shepherd
Jesus claims that the sheep know the voice of the good shepherd... So what is that good shepherd like?
Easter - Week 04 - Sunday
May 01, 202307:57
When God Seems Disguised
People have difficulty recognizing Jesus after his resurrection. Is it because he wears disguises or they are missing something that has always been evident?
Year A - Easter - Week 03
Apr 23, 202310:31
What Thomas Sought
What exactly did Thomas doubt and was the doubt the real issue? Easter - Week 02 - Divine Mercy Sunday
Apr 16, 202308:39
A Missing Detail on Resurrection Sunday
Who tells the story of the the salvation of the world? Easter Sunday
Apr 10, 202305:21
The Messiness of Farewells
Saying farewell well is always worth the trouble, even with the smallest things. And Jesus isn't bothered by the process in the least.
Holy Week - Monday
Apr 03, 202305:06
Martha's Redemption
Martha gets such a bad rap she just doesn't deserve, which only makes her redemption all the sweeter.
Year A - Lent - Week 05
Mar 27, 202313:41
Living in a Shelter of Shame
We can sometimes get stuck living in a little shelter of shame, but the good and great news is that God's got so much more in mind for us.
Year A - Lent - Week 03
Mar 12, 202313:18
The Fear of Anonymity
A fear of anonymity coupled with never feeling known is a surely an indication of some evil spirit baloney.
Lent - Week 03 - Wednesday
Mar 09, 202306:04
Easier Said than Done, but Better Enjoyed than Not
Jesus invites us to forgive rather than judge or condemn, but that seems to be easier said than done. In today's homily, I offer a couple examples that help illustrate where one might begin when feeling stuck in judgment or condemnation.
Lent - Week 03 - Monday
Mar 07, 202306:17
Have no Fear When God shines forth through Man
The moment of the transfiguration is a revelation of who Jesus and where Christ continues to dwell today. Year A - Lent - Week 02
Mar 05, 202309:29
Stop Arguing and Start Praying
Jesus encounters his disciples in an argument about a young lady and takes a different tact for healing her.
Year 1 - Ordinary Time - Week 07 - Monday
Feb 23, 202305:30