Let's talk about homily topics

[Gorgias]

Actually, the homily is only required on Sundays (and holy days, IIRC).

Then again, COVID might be a blessing… you can’t tell anything about anyone by looking at them while they’re wearing a mask!

I look at it this way; sometimes the homily will reach somebody else out there perfectly and somebody like me less directly.

Yep. This!

And, I think that this is also the answer to @Tis_Bearself and @Procla – sometimes, a homily hits you right between the eyes, and sometimes, it sails right over you and hits the folks behind you right between the eyes. You just can’t reach all the members of a disparate audience in the same profound way with any particular arbitrary message.

 

[Usige]

I would love to hear homilies peppered with saint quotes, episodes of Church history

Sorry, you’re not in my neck of the woods.

I generally start to write my homilies with the lectionary & missal, catechism, and the patristics opened on my desk (or in Verbum to be more correct). Depending on which saint I land on I’ll also open up some historical commentary to place their quote in context.

We were taught to use exegetical study methods to look at the 4 senses of scripture (“The Letter speaks of deeds; Allegory to faith; The Moral how to act; Anagogy our destiny.”) and then how those different senses of scripture apply throughout time and to the current cultural reality. Looking at historical sources often make it easier to see some of the current cultural issues at arms length where people aren’t as personally invested.

Personally I tend to keep personal stories out of homilies because I’ve frankly lived a pretty mundane life. Even when drawing from personal experience it is so generalized that anyone involved would be hard pressed to know if it referred to them.

 

[Beryllos]

Then again, COVID might be a blessing… you can’t tell anything about anyone by looking at them while they’re wearing a mask!

I’m afraid my closed eyes and soft snoring would be a dead giveaway.

 

[Irishmom2]

How do you hide a yawn, they just happen.

And how do you know they didn’t try to hide it though?

 

[Gorgias]

I’m afraid my closed eyes and soft snoring would be a dead giveaway.

LOL!

As a preacher, I might be tempted to walk over and talk right in front of you. To you. Visibly. (Maybe that’s why I shouldn’t wish that on you…!)

 

[Irishmom2]

I remember a teacher in high school doing that to someone that fell asleep in class.

 

[Irishmom2]

Well covering a yawn hardly hides it though it is certainly more polite.

 

[Gorgias]

I remember a teacher in high school doing that to someone that fell asleep in class.

LOL! Should I mention that, among the jobs I’ve had throughout my career, ‘classroom teacher’ has been one of them?!?

 

[Diaconia]

This is a nice topic to discuss, thanks to @Tis_Bearself for starting the thread. I will share a few thoughts from both sides of the ambo.

Personally, I like a “meaty” homily that gets deep into a biblical term or topic. It can be of significant length. I only find those on clergy retreats or in monasteries, typically.

Although I am a deacon, I graduated from the seminary; and was taught how to preach like a priest there. Years later, I went through a diaconate formation program, and was taught to preach there as a deacon. They are a little different.

As such, I religiously follow the cardinal rule of preaching: know your audience.

1. During the week I give short fervorinos to the daily Mass crowd that focus on the feast, and the life of the saint of the day. Quotes or info about the Saint, Order, etc. WHY? Because daily communicants know the Gospels deeper; they hear the readings more often, and aren’t the kind of people that miss Sunday Mass.
2. On Sundays I give an eight-minute, engaging, homily that connects the Gospel to modern life. Usually this takes the form of explaining an interesting tid-bit from the Gospel account. Examples might include something like these:

• “Did you know this is the only time Jesus allowed the crowd to leave due to a teaching?”
• Or “the Greek term trogos means to chew, devour, masticate; it describes how an animal eats. There’s no way anyone took the term in a symbolic way.”
• Or, “only Mark, the shortest Gospel, keeps this Aramaic word in his account; it’s that important that you hear the actual word Jesus Himself said.”

WHY? Since a Sunday Mass has every type of Catholic (young, old, kids, teens, parents, grandparents, singles, divorced, widowed, newlyweds), I do not weight the message to any special group unless the liturgy is for them (baptism, wedding, funeral). Plus, many Sunday Mass-goers can only pay attention for 8 - 10 minutes, tops. Take off, circle the airport once, and then land the dang plane!

1. At my Ukrainian Temple, I give a short, simplified-English, single-topic, lesson from the words of Christ that day. WHY? The priest will also give a homily in Ukrainian; so I want a short, interesting thought, for the English-only speakers, and the basic-English speakers, to savor on throughout Divine Liturgy.

The Word of God is alive and useful,
Deacon Christopher

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Thanks for your insights, Diaconia.

Can you explain the difference between how priests are taught to preach “like priests” vs. how deacons are taught to preach “like deacons”?

 

[Diaconia]

Sure (please note I don’t necessarily agree with these distinctions, I usually preach like a priest myself):

Priests go to college for at least eight years (often ten if they have a previous degree in some other discipline and need a couple of years of pre-theology before graduate school), and have semester-long courses in Biblical languages, Canon law, foreign languages, leadership, exegesis, homiletics, CPE, and counseling. They also have years-long courses in philosophy, and various disciplines of theology. Seminaries have state-of-the-art video labs for homily practice, that are recorded, critiqued, and coached.

Priests are prepared to preach as spiritual fathers and shepherds of their flocks. They know the conditions of their parish, concerns, needs, hear the sins their people most struggle with, etc.

Deacons attend classes part-time, over a period of four years. Some have college degrees and some don’t. They are in disparate disciplines, typically (rarely philosophy or theology).

Their programs give them much shorter exposure to Scripture, theology, preaching, Canon law, and practicums in how to preside at a baptism, wake, make a sick call, etc. May or may not include CPE.

Since most deacons are married with families and have secular jobs, they experience life with one foot among the clergy, and one among the laity.

As such, their homilies reflect more “regular life” kinds of things and often share as dads or grandpas; rather than shepherds of the flock. They tend to proclaim the Gospel in the world by their actions. Ideally, as the bishops “eyes and ears,” they know what is going on in the larger community and can preach informed by those needs (poverty, civil unrest, crime, people in need, etc.).

Because of the newness of the restored diaconate, there is great disparity is diaconal preparation programs throughout our country. Some dioceses use seminaries and seminary professors. Others use local colleges, still others use home-grown programs with just the clergy of the diocese as teachers. Some employ heavy distance-learning curriculums. Diaconal candidates can receive very different formation from diocese to diocese.

Anyway, those are some of the reasons the homilies are often different from priests and deacons. Your mileage may vary.

Deacon Christopher

 

[c4csp]

I enjoy homilies that challenge us as Catholics. It is good to be humbled because we are all so weak and need God’s mercy and grace to do anything. I would prefer hearing Jesus’ words and also “controversial” issues. We must remember that the Church is a hospital and we are sinners in need. When many are influenced by the culture and accept use of contraception, abortion, homosexuality, etc. it is good when the priest speaks truth boldly on these things. Ignoring these topics because they may ruffle feathers is denying folks the healing medicine they need. Too many Catholics are living in mortal sin and have no Shepards to call them out or teach them the truth. It is very sad.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

That’s interesting. I do agree the deacons are more likely to preach from real-life examples, which can be uncomfortable for me depending on the subject matter. I also felt a bit weird when a deacon gave a homily once on an issue he had with his wife. Obviously the wife was fine with it because she was sitting right there and it wasn’t anything huge - it was the type of issue like dividing housework or someone being in a grumpy mood, that one hears about at Marriage Encounter-type retreats - but since I’m not used to hearing someone talking about their marriage during a homily (the two married priests whose Masses I’ve attended both tended to discuss Scripture or Church history), it was jarring.

However, I’m noticing an increasing number of priests also using the “real-life example” model as well. Some of them had a career before the priesthood, some of them just seem to like to talk about what’s happening in their lives (e.g. “I went out for breakfast and met this waitress who said blablabla”). It’s usually okay (for one thing, the vast majority of them don’t have wives to talk about), but distinctly different from the “scholarly scripture” or “saint of the day” approach.

 

[Tommy999]

I like homilies/sermons that apply the scripture readings to practical daily living as much as possible so that parishioners may leave spiritually strengthened to live a holier life.

I don’t care much for homilies/sermons that take sides on political issues or are heavily made up of jokes like a stand-up comedian routine, or otherwise don’t pertain to the scripture readings.

Otherwise I try to give the speaker the benefit of the doubt as much as possible. I have ADD so I have to focus harder on keeping my concentration, so I value especially those speakers who can keep my attention.

It also helps me to keep notes, although I try not to be too conspicuous so as to not distract others by it.

 

[Diaconia]

However, I’m noticing an increasing number of priests also using the “real-life example” model as well. Some of them had a career before the priesthood, some of them just seem to like to talk about what’s happening in their lives (e.g. “I went out for breakfast and met this waitress who said blablabla”). It’s usually okay (for one thing, the vast majority of them don’t have wives to talk about), but distinctly different from the “scholarly scripture” or “saint of the day” approach.

Interesting - it may well be related to the larger percentage of priestly vocations that come as second-careers. Fr. used to be an accountant, then decided to become a priest kind of thing.

But, to each his own; it is not the way I was taught, so it’s not how I preach. In 16 years of ordained ministry; my experience is that the people I encounter are thirsting to death for the Word of God, how to understand it, and seeing its relevance to their modern lives.

Deacon Christopher

 

[Diaconia]

Homilists in general work hard on their homilies. Some of them have a gift for it. Some do not. Some preach about things that resonate with me. Some touch other people. I hope I have never confused a priest or deacon whose preaching was aimed at someone else for a poor homilist.
Our deacon and priest get many compliments for homilies that don’t appeal to me at all.

This is very true, and worth underscoring. In a regular parish setting, with all the disparate types of people in attendance, a typical outcome might be:

• 10% - 20% of the crowd love it, and think you are speaking directly to them, it resonates with them profoundly
• 10% or so of those attending are missed completely; nothing sticks or strikes them
• 70% - 80% of the parish get something out of it, between those two poles

A great homily is one where the ones you connect with are a higher percentage. Every homily will whiff by at least a few people. But, if the vast majority get something out of it, you have done your job well.

All preachers can improve their craft, they simply need to work at it. Some do so diligently, others think they can just “wing it,” whenever they are preaching.

The most challenging thing for me personally, since COVID-19 struck, is that I can’t see reactions from people’s faces behind their masks. I use several visual cues and body language from facial expressions as I deliver the homily. It helps guide the cadence, pauses, reiteration of a key phrase, and the like.

Someone had mentioned the requirement of a homily at Mass - technically a homily is required at Sunday Mass (and Solemnities). But daily Masses can have a sermon about other things (like a topic - abortion) or other people (like a saint). Homilies are specifically about the Gospel account (and may be related to the other two readings, but need not be). Sermons can be about whatever the preacher feels called to.

The most dedicated and serious preachers spend about one hour per minute on their Sunday homily. A ten minute homily requires ten hours of prep throughout the week. That time often includes:

• careful reading of the texts
• sitting and savoring the words and images for some time
• consulting or researching other sources on terms and images
• praying about what is most striking or needed on this particular week
• writing or composing thoughts into an outline
• rehearsing (including timing the homily)
• revising
• rehearsing again

At the heart of Holy Orders is the compelling need to share the Good News; blessed are those preachers who make this a priority in their ministries,
Deacon Christopher

 

[Gorgias]

• Because daily communicants know the Gospels deeper; they hear the readings more often, and aren’t the kind of people that miss Sunday Mass.

In some of the teaching roles in which I’ve participated (parish Bible studies, adult enrichment classes, etc), I’ve found that daily Mass attendees may have had more exposure to Scripture (through Mass readings), but that doesn’t translate into a deeper understanding, as such. They have the same questions as other, non-daily-Mass-attendee Catholic have, and are in need of the same teachings that a general Catholic audience are. (On the other hand, they seem to be more motivated to learn the Scriptures.)

 

[fide]

my experience is that the people I encounter are thirsting to death for the Word of God, how to understand it, and seeing its relevance to their modern lives.

This is very good news for me to hear. Thank you. I hear that your experience - your ministry - has been illuminated and kindled by the holy grace of God - and you have been graced to receive Him; He has found place in you.

The crucial element I seek and listen for in a homily - and in every act of the Mass - is unction. Is the Spirit in the man? Is God Himself present in the man? Does he “tremble” before the Presence and the Word of God? Is he a man of God?

Isa 66:1 Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool; what is the house which you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?
Isa 66:2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things are mine, says the LORD. But this is the man to whom I will look, he that is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.

I dread hearing men seeking to entertain, to pander, to “excite”, to “motivate”, to in any way become complicit in reducing the holy Truth of God in the Scripture, to mere maxims to be used in our natural lives – and miss the mark entirely, which is that New and Supernatural Life given us by God’s grace in Baptism. We have been born from above! THAT LIFE needs to be fed, nurtured, guided, brought to maturity, brought to fruitfulness. So much time is wasted, and the days left to us become fewer.

 

[Gorgias]

In a regular parish setting, with all the disparate types of people in attendance, a typical outcome might be

Ahh, the 10%-80%-10% rule! I’ve always heard it expressed as “10% of your parishioners love you, 10% hate you… and the other 80%? You’d be lucky if they know your name or recognize you outside of Mass”…

 

[adamhovey1988]

What kinds of homilies do you like?

“The Church needs money”! I get it, especially right now, but, the priests could at least make it have to do with the readings.
I LOVE loud preaching. I’m weird. I actually know of a priest, dude from India, he was very in your face (in a good way) about how serious the gospel is. (He was a surprisingly gentle confessor, however).