This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. That means we are in a new church year. Happy New Year, Church. Happy New Year, Pope Francis. Happy New Year to you all. And in this new church year, we have an amazing gospel for this Sunday. It is Jesus saying to us, “Please stay awake. You do not know when the Lord will come.” And so I think a great question to ask is, when your head hits the pillow and you’re going into dreamland, what’s the thing that keeps you up at night? Is it a relationship? Is it your family? Is it work? Is it studies? Is it trying to figure out when the Chicago Bears are actually gonna be good?
And hearing Jesus’ words in this new church year, can we think about him before we go to bed? Can we let the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit be the persons that we think about before we go to bed? And so, what do you think Jesus thought about when he was going to bed at night? What do you think kept him up at night? What do you think he thought about? I think the answer is obvious. He was thinking about you.
Reel Homilies with Father Tim Anastos is free to watch, but it’s not free to produce! Generous donors make it possible for us to continue creating this content. If you enjoy Reel Homilies, please consider making a monthly tax-deductible gift. Spirit Juice Entertainment Group (SJEG) is the non-profit arm of Spirit Juice Studios. It is a 501(c)3 organization that relies on your support to continue creating original, authentically Catholic content that reaches thousands of people each week through our website and social media channels.
Start a new monthly donation and receive an array of Reel Homilies and Spirit Juice swag in gratitude for your generosity. For more information, please visit our Reel Homilies Support page.
To qualify, you must donate a minimum of $10 per month. All gifts in between will be rounded down to the nearest package amount. Please allow 6-8 weeks for your package to be shipped. Questions? Contact us at [email protected]. Your donation is tax-deductible within the United States, and we will provide a tax receipt for your records.
-
Waiting Like Mary
Ever wonder where the Pope goes on vacation? Castel Gandolfo, a quiet, beautiful place where a statue of Our Lady points to her Immaculate Heart with the words cor meum vigilat: “My heart is ever vigilant” As we enter the First Sunday of Advent, the Gospel calls us to that same posture: be prepared. We don’t know the day or the hour, but Mary shows us the best way to wait. Her whole life was marked by trust. From Jesus’ childhood to His Passion, she remained vigilant, steady, and confident that the Father would take care of everything. This Advent, we’re invited to wait like Mary, with a heart that’s watchful, calm, and full of trust in our Father.
-
Suspicious of Joy
Ebenezer Scrooge, Severus Snape, Loki, The Grinch. What do they all have in common? They are suspicious of joy. In the gospel for this Sunday, we have the story of the famous prodigal son. The older son is suspicious of joy. He hears the party for the younger son, and instead of going out, he is suspicious of the joy happening. If they are being rejoiced over, then he must be less loved. Because the older son is suspicious…
-
First Whispered Words
Do you remember the first time anyone ever whispered in your ear? Probably not. Me neither, except it was probably my mom. Who whispered? Your brother’s my favorite. Anyway, there is a Jewish tradition where parents of a newborn child will whisper into their ear here, oh, Israel, the Lord is your God. The Lord alone. Therefore, you shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all…
