Sunday Homilies

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Xpi22

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Of the nearly 10 months of weekly homilies you have heard in 2018, how many do you have a clear recollection of? Is there any among us that feel/think they regularly get fed real meat or is it mostly milk?
 
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A lot of the time, I define it difficult to hear the homily, becuase of where I’m situated in the Church.
 
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Not familiar with the verb " to gearbox ". Are you situated in a particular place for some reason. Just curious.
 
Xpi22 said:
10 months of weekly homilies you have heard in 2018, how many do you have a clear recollection of?
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Probably 2. However that doesn’t mean I learned nothing. Source amnesia is a thing. It’s when you remember a fact or story but don’t know where you heard it
 
Interesting but maybe slightly misleading question.

How many meals do you have a clear recollection of during that timeframe?

Closed my eyes for a few moments. Came up with 10 or 11 that I could clearly picture the priest giving the homily, and what he was saying.

Our Pastor has a “from the pastor’s desk” in the bulletin. I cut them out, and have been saving them in a binder. Looking thru that binder, and looking at the topics, conjures in my mind the message of the homily, even when delivered by one of the Associate Pastors. Not only 2018, but 2017, 2016…

Is that real meat? I’ll tell you, that “From the Pastor’s Desk” is real evangelization and wonderful Apologetics. I wish more pastors would do it.

Is there milk as well? Yes, of course. Is every homily a home run? Of course not. But there’s sure a square meal in every one. Sometimes you have to work at it.

You don’t want 100% pablum, do you? Every time you get a milk one, go and do some research. What was missing? How could it be better? Answering, for youself, those questions is going to help you grow closer to God, and the Church

Blessings,
 
My question is, what kind of feedback are you expecting from a topic like this? I preach every week. Some weeks I’m better prepared than others. Some weeks I make good points. Some weeks I don’t do quite as well. Some weeks the readings are rich and it’s hard to narrow it down to one or two things, so I pick what stands out to me the most, figuring God will use my situation in the moment to speak to his people. And some weeks the readings don’t give me much at all to work with–they’re self-explanatory, nothing to really go deeper on–so I preach on something else, like the prayers of the Mass of that week.

The point is, none of us are going to be 100% full-throttle 100% of the time. I would say that one in 12 of my homilies is really something I’m proud of. I’m a decent writer and a decent public speaker, and I admit that I don’t always put all I could into it.

I guess my question really comes around to–what is the point of this thread? A lot of times, these threads turn into “bash the bad priest” kinds of affairs, and forgive me if it seems that I am assuming this as your motive. But my answer to most things like this is to walk a mile in my shoes–see what actually goes into preparing a homily–before turning a super critical eye to it.

That said, I’m glad someone cares. I think I’d rather get negative feedback (whether deservedly or not) than people who couldn’t care less. It’s one of the reasons I slip in humorous comments here and there–not to be a comedian, but to make sure people are listening.

-Fr ACEGC
 
I very, very, very occasionally email our priests with words of encouragement for what I considered an outstanding homily. Most often, I even get a heartfelt thank you back.
 
The truth is in my church, the sound system is really not set up right and its tough to really make out that much.

The crazy thing is that the church was built at the turn of the 20th Century, before electrification, and the people could hear better if the priest just projected his voice.
 
Always think the best, Father. My question was to see what others experience has been regarding homilies. Your response, though a bit defensive, was very interesting and honest and appreciated. I think the question could be answered by any Catholic who goes to Mass weekly. They might answer with insight, encouragement, humility and overall help to take the pulse of what happens in our churches after the Gospel is read. For myself, I can’t say I remember any homily given this year, not a one. I will begin to pay closer attention.
 
In a parish setting a typical homily hits a home-run with about 10% of the congregation, does a complete whiff for 10%, and the middle 80% get something out of it.

Why? Because the makeup of a typical parish has a myriad of different worshippers: children, teens, young adults, newly married, married with kids, divorced, widow(er)s, seniors, grandparents and other demographics.

To say nothing of the beloved topics of different groups. “Why doesn’t he preach more about: Sin, hell, repentance, purgatory? Or pro-life? Or the Real Presence? Or the single life? Or the Culture of Death? Or the Saints? Or God’s unconditional love for us? Or current events? Or Social Justice?”

Every preacher has had some training in homiletics, some have had lots. Some are much better public speakers than others. Some rely on homily services. Some wing it while others prepare extensively.
Due to all these reasons, that’s why a homily might be memorable to one person and forgotten by another.
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Our Father among the Saints, John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, was such a gifted orator he often preached for 2-3 hours during the Liturgy. People marveled at his words, and even swooned.

Would that all the preachers, have a bit of his inspiration.

Deacon Christopher
 
I can almost always find one thing that really hits home in the homily, or a point that I found particularly helpful, interesting, or insightful. I always make a point of stopping to shake hands, say a few words of thanks, or appreciation to the priest after mass. Like your priests, mine seem to appreciate the feedback.
 
Might pay to listen closely to whats being said and reflect on it. Its a great exercise for memory.

That being said, I never make out the words on a Sunday because of where I am situated too. But I do hear the weekday ones.
 
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