My pastor gave a one sentence sermon

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felra

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This past weekend the associate pastor at our parish gave a one sentence sermon phrased in a question. He first requoted a verse from the Gospel reading, noticeably paused to get most people’s attention, then asked the first person question “How ready are you…”, then abrupty left the podium. Unfortunately my 6 month old was crying and I missed the last couple words. Then that was it.

My take that it was more of a punch line with out the story type of sermon. It may have been effective and I suppose edifying had I heard the complete sermon sentence (the pastor left the vestible before I could get the missed words). This associate pastor is notorious for his quick (35-40 minute) weekend masses. Any thoughts if this sounds appopriate? Has anyone else had such a short (and hopefully poignant) sermon? :confused:
 
Back in the early 1970s one of our priests was notorious for giving “entertaining” homilies. One summer Sunday was particularly hot and the church at that time had no air conditioning. When it came time for his homily Father simply said, “You think THIS is hot?” (yes I know this is an old joke, but he actually used it!)

Another time this same priest was unprepared. It was the weekend of the time change in the fall. He got up to give his homily and he said this: “Well, as we all know we lost an hour this weekend. And that was the hour during which I write my homily.”

Back then I was a teenager and thought both “homilies” were quite a hoot.

Now I am older and wiser!

Well, older, anyway…

'thann
 
I didn’t hear the homily you’re writing about, so I cannot comment on it, but I have often found that a short homily that gives you a few points to think about can be much more effective than a long, rambling homily. The quality of a homily is not necessarily proportional to its length. On the contrary, often quality is inversely proportional to length.
 
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Benedictus:
I didn’t hear the homily you’re writing about, so I cannot comment on it, but I have often found that a short homily that gives you a few points to think about can be much more effective than a long, rambling homily. The quality of a homily is not necessarily proportional to its length. On the contrary, often quality is inversely proportional to length.
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Quite so. I’m a teacher and when I do feedback questionaires at the end of year if I have have rambled with any degree of frequency boy do I hear about it…
:o
 
It was once commented of the Supreme Court - They write long opinions because they won’t take the time to write short ones.

I have often thought the same applies to homilies.
 
Today (Monday) at noon mass, I had a similiar situation happen, however there was no homily AND no intentions. It was odd - as if the priest had somewhere to be and had to accelerate the mass.
 
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