Fifteen minutes for a homily?

[tsrk30]

I have been taking courses through the Catholic Home Study program. The first course was We Believe, A Survey of the Catholic Faith. I learned a lot in that course. I just completed the next course We Worship. On page 63 of the textbook I read, " “Most experts
suggest that the homily be about ten to fifteen minutes in length”. I was shocked! The preaching of God’s word only deserves a fifteen-minute talk! The scriptures cannot be expounded in that amount of time. I attend a church that is committed to the verse-by-verse exposition of the scriptures. We take a book of the bible and each Sunday work our way thorough the book. We took four years to complete the Gospel of John. That is with each sermon being over one hour long. People take notes and usually there is much discussion about the sermon after the service. Can someone please help me understand the Catholic view of a homily being only fifteen minutes?

Please understand that I am in no way trying to be argumentative, I truly would like to understand.

Thank you

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Dear tsrk,

The liturgy on Sunday is primarily for worship. It is not a class in biblical studies. The Liturgy of the Word prepares us for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In amplifying the Word that was just proclaimed the preacher directs it toward helping those gathered at the altar to more fully appreciate what will shortly take place there. We preach to pray.

As in the earliest days of Christianity, the highpoint of the service is the real presence of Jesus Christ on the altar under the form of bread and wine.

To receive Him in Holy Communion makes anything else pale in comparison. See the following regarding this:

catholic.com/library/Real_Presence.asp

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.