Are You Getting What You Need From The Sunday Homily?

8/2/2015

In the column "dear Padre" a reader complains: Our last pastor gave good homilies, and I got a lot out of them. Our new pastor either tells jokes or talks about what he did during the week. How can I get him to preach better homilies? (Signed: Hungry for the Word)
I think the parishioners at Sacred Heart Parish ( Stamford, NY) are particularly blessed, if not spoiled by the quality of homily they receive every Sunday. Our pastor, Fr. Cambi, spends a great deal of time preparing for the writing of his typical eight minute homily; he knows the power of words and how to make them work for us and he is engaging. I can follow just how he carefully and skillfully uses the day's Scripture reading to direct the listener to a place of reflection. Sadly, not every Catholic has the good fortune of experiencing such a "homilist" and that works against The New Evangelization and individual conversion. If a person is "not getting anything out of " the Liturgy of The Word there is a big problem brewing for The Church, the individual and the priest.

Fr. Rick Potts aka "the dear Padre" tells us: "a homily must artfully draw a listener into questions of the human heart and bring that day's Scripture reading to bear on those questions. In that moment we hear--in faith how hope, love, sacrifice, and belief in God guides us in our life's journey."

Many of my readers at LetItAllStartHere are knowledgeable enough to describe the qualities of a strong homily. They know what they need to get out of that experience. I am asking those same readers to join our movement as we insist that priests do the work and prepare thought provoking homilies. Answer the question: How can a pastor write a better homily? BE NOT AFRAID! Tell us what you have learned through the many years you have participated in The Holy Mass. I can start the ball rolling by offering this from Thomas Merton: " We don't need so much to talk about God but to allow people to feel how God lives within us, that's our work." This is the work of the priest: To get his people to feel something.

19 Comments

Dennis

8/3/2015 10:06:31 pm

I do like the homily. In the mass we start by opening ourselves to God. We pray and ask for His love. For me, closeness and presence to Christ grows. Then we are immersed in readings, bits of knowledge written to guide us. The homily can take all of this and enlighten me. I will admit, the homily can be hardest part of the mass to stay present with. During a recent budget report I spent some time admiring the stain glass windows! I would also add that I can get something out of every homily if I listen well.

Frances Wellington

8/4/2015 07:00:13 am

There is something in every homily, the person signed "Hungry for the Word" I am sure did not listen or understand. No priest will give a homily just telling jokes and talks about his week. In the jokes and experience he had during the week, I am sure there were thoughts in it that reveals the presence of God.

Psalm 37: 30-31
The mouths of the just utter wisdom their tongues speak what is right. God's teaching is in their hearts, their steps do not falter.

We have an excellent priest, he has been blessed with many gifts.
I have many of his homilies downloaded and read them often, his words often give me the help I need at that time. I pray for him and thank God for him. But as good as he is I know a person that finds fault in just about every homily. The Holy Spirit does not touch everyone at all times in the homily of every priest, no mater how much time they put into it. Some are better homilist then others, but I think they all put a lot of time preparing to proclaim the word of God. And pray that his people will hear Gods guidance in his words.

Through the years I have heard many homilies, some very good , some not so good but most with a message that brings me closer to Our Lord. What I have learned through the many years that I have participated in the Mass, is that this is His Church, the priest is persona Christi and I will not criticize them. It is the Church I love.

What we can do for them to have better homilies is pray each day
for the priest preparing his homily at that time, that their words will bring his people closer to Our Lord and His Church.

Evelyn Augusto link

8/4/2015 12:33:03 pm

Beautiful reply Fran.

jackie white

8/5/2015 10:14:35 am

Maybe we should consider doing a better job ourselves by preparing the readings and the gospel before we celebrate the liturgy either by attending a scripture group, spending time in meditation and let the homily be a bonus to what we already considered time well spent.

The priest in not a miracle worker. He is inspired by the Holy Spirit after reading and meditating himself and then puts his spin on it.

Some priests are natural homilists and others are not. Some may have a great voice and can add to the liturgy that way. We can't fault a person for not having that gift. Maybe the priest has many other blessings to share with his parishioners.

A priest can have prepared the greatest homily ever and as he is delivering it he notices people looking around and not paying attention but instead looking at a watch to see how much longer he is going to talk.

We are so lucky to have priests. Let us support them and accept whatever they are willing to share with us. Let us thank God for them and pray for them.

Evelyn Augusto link

8/5/2015 11:17:09 am

Sorry ladies BUT priests have a job to do like the rest of us. If I cone I'll prepared to preform the service my client expects I pay for it one way or another. Its the priest's responsibility to prepare a homily that makes sense to those listening. It is their responsibility to acquire the necessary skills to evangelize. Listen it's not neurosurgery here. Priest aren't saints, at least not all if them, so let's be reasonable. A comprehensible homily is not much to ask.

Evelyn Augusto link

8/5/2015 11:45:48 am

Also...the blog specifically requests suggestions for what makes a good homily. SO...when a priest's homily leaves you dull eyed or scratching your head...what would observations could offer him? Thanks

jackie white

8/5/2015 08:22:54 pm

Evelyn..To stay with the subject matter....

From Story Magazine
Seven Marks of a Good Sermon

"A good sermon engages the biblical text, proclaims the gospel, connects God's word to the lives of God's people, is well organized and easy to understand, captures the imagination of the hearers, is delivered well, and orients people toward life in Gods' world."

It suggests in the article to look for the marks if you are a preacher and see what can be improved.

It also suggests for the listener when an appropriate opportunity presents itself, talk about the sermon with your pastor. Most pastors welcome honest feedback.

Frances Wellington

8/6/2015 04:27:40 am

I guess I have not been at the right Mass. In the 62 Mass as a Catholic I have never been left dulled eyed and scratching my head. I still think the priests are doing their job. No one wants to be in the front of hundreds of people and not be doing the best they can.
They have been taught in the seminary how to give a homily. Who am I to tell them how to do it. Some priests leaves a person thinking all is well, others leave them thinking they need to do better. That is one of the things that priests are faulted on. Does a person want to live a better life more like Jesus who we should be following or do they just want to hear God loves them and that is enough.

Frances Wellington

8/6/2015 05:15:22 am

Evelyn, do you remember hearing about Solanus Casey? He was at Sacred Heart in Yonkers. He was a great priest, a very holy man, but he was not allowed to hear confessions or give a homily. He will proably be canonized some day, he is already beatified. In spite of his limitations he brought others closer to God.

Dennis

8/6/2015 09:30:45 pm

Evelyn, I support your crusade to hold priest's to their task. But we are responsible for the feelings we feel. We would most assuredly throw away many good men because language and oratory is a weak point

evelyn link

8/7/2015 12:12:13 am

I didn't say anything about "throwing good men away". I raised a question that about what makes a good homily and challenged my readers to offering their observations and suggestions. I read this "dear Padre" column in a 2008 bulletine from a local parish.

Dennis

8/8/2015 12:20:02 am

Evelyn, your blog does bring out the emotions within me. Forgive me for implying you would throw anyone away! My bad.

Dennis

8/9/2015 01:25:51 am

Wow! what a homily I heard today. A substitute priest came this week, it felt, he reported, a special assignment. I haven't desired to receive the Host the way I did, after his homily today, in many years. I suspect, every mass I attend from now till my death, at communion time I will be remembering today's homily.

jackie white

8/9/2015 07:48:45 am

Dennis,

What you said is so powerful.. I don't know where you celebrate the liturgy but that priest will have a special place in the afterlife for making Christ so real to you in his homily and in the Eucharist. Praise the Lord.

Ellen Moran

8/10/2015 01:24:45 pm

There was a time when I actually left a "Mass" because a "homily"rubbed me the wrong way.(with excited blasphemous feelings ,while simultaneously asking the Lord to forgive me for my selfishness and outrage.)
I don't leave Mass for any such nonsense nowadays.
I am there first to worship the Lord, in Eucharistic presence and community.I appreciate even a pathetic homily.Which,thank God are very few.
Personally,I use a "bad or "negative"homily as an opportunity for developing more patience and no matter what I always thank the priest .It's not about me,it's not about a lousy homily.It's about having the grace to be grateful...I am "fed"..by the Lord in the Most Holy Sacrifice .I also view it as a somewhat "protestant thing",focusing so much on the "preaching".. or for us, the "homily".
We are not merely a "homily"people,we are Eucharist people and anyone can have an "off" homily. I have known many very lovely Priests who always give their personal best and there is always someone flapping their lips about about "not being fed". The very few rotten homilies,I've experienced, either I've been a visitor or the Priest is a visitor,patience and love is what is called for,some of them are "newbies"and need kind and prayerful support.
Our Priest's are not an "entertainment committee",in Persona Christi.So,I guess,I come down on the side of even a lousy homily is better than no homily.Everyone is a critic :D !

Evelyn Augusto link

8/10/2015 02:20:43 pm

I loved this response Ellen. There is a lot to learn from your words. Thank you.

Corinne

8/17/2015 12:06:33 am

Reading the Joy of the Gospel , Pope Frances expresses that a Homily is a constant source of renewal and growth . He also states that Saint Paul spoke very forcefully about the need to preach . Also Christ did establish the apostles with him so they could be sent out to preach and to bring people the heart of Church .

Evelyn Augusto link

8/17/2015 06:36:18 am

Yes Corinne! I am so glad you mentioned The Joy of the Gospel. It is such an important book. Do you have any other thoughts about it to share? Thanks

Corinne

8/17/2015 10:08:45 pm

Yes I do . I think it is important to have a Homily that is given with compassion . To know the true Christ . To me in order to come to the table I must be brought there. Gods words are to be taught and we need to be enlightened , to be excited about our faith. We need to have our lives touched . In the joy of Gospel , it was said Jesus was angered by those teachers who Demanded to much of others. We must teach with love and understanding . Only then we will be drawn to Christ. Clergy and followers also should show the faith . To show understanding and to know all of us belong to Christ . So to me I firmly believe that walking out of church with excitement about my faith will draw me closer to Jesus . The joy of the Gospel had spoke to my heart . It had mentioned all the things that I have wanted to express but couldn't quite put it into words .

LET IT aLL sTART hERE
For Catholics who care...