Why do homilies ..... well, stink?

[ac_claire]

I am not so sure financial concerns impact the homily. The problem of “cafeteria Catholics” is worrisome. I tend to be hard-line and conservative but know it is not helpful to push people away. That said, my hard core side likes what Second Exodus says on this topic. It’s a good read.

I really love that link! I’m also not too sure that financial concerns generally impact homilies, but I guess it could. Except in ways where it outright defines the homily. I attend one parish where at *least *1 out of every 3 homilies is directly about giving more money to the parish.

 

[Elizabeth502]

Just my two cents:

More than once in my past I have “shopped” Churches for homily-value. I think there’s a valid and an invalid way of, or reason for, doing this. Previously, I “counted on” the homily to be my reason for attending, so to speak – my main motivator. I looked to the priest to be my “inspiration,” and felt strangely “angry” or “cheated” if it weren’t there. Eventually I discovered that I was looking for the wrong thing and the wrong reasons – kind of like (pardon the comparison; it’s not meant to be sacriligious) those who cruise bars, or go to a party, with a goal in mind of a particular type of pleasing social contact: they’re so focused on their own personal goal that they miss the many other opportunities that might be latent in those occasions if they were “present to the moment.”

It was actually all about my own personal disposition. It was a failure of my own faith and my own openness to allow God to draw me in to the moment and enable the particular graces of that particular Mass to become activated. Now I can attend virtually anywhere, whatever the homily quality, and receive what God intended for me to receive.

One of the three local parishes I sometimes attend is one where the priest delivers not a particularly inspiring or original homily. However, I hardly blame the priest. He probably wonders if any of us are listening. The Mass is attended mostly by families with unruly children, including a fair number of single Moms (or Moms attending without spouse), who consume most of their time struggling with children instead of listening to him. In a former time in my life, that would have been reason enough not to attend this church: the sheer level of distraction. The priest, who is a sweet guy, probably justifiably wonders why he should spend much time preparing at all.

I will admit that I get “more” out of a Mass when everything works toward awareness, insight, and reception of graces – the celebrant’s manner, the homily, the music, and most importantly to me, the apparent centeredness/attentiveness of those in attendance. Clearly at the church just mentioned, there is very little of the latter. Yet I encounter Christ at that Mass, and since He is infiniite and his graces not restricted by location, I do not receive him “less” at that Mass than where everything works together. Maybe I wasn’t meant to hear Him through the homily at those Masses, but to see, hear, receive something else: his peace, his receptivity to others, and the graces needed for this day, this week.

 

[tngail]

There are times when the homily goes over my head … but, I ask the Holy Spirit for direction…

 

[Supercatholic]

Why do homilies stink? That would be a good question if all parishes had homilies that lacked the important subjects you mentioned. It’s my understanding that the homilies are to tie in all the readings for the day and explain how they’re related to each other. Sometimes we get that, sometimes we don’t. A great homily may be inspirational, but it doesn’t confer any grace upon us. Protestants give great sermons because they have absolutely nothing else to offer. The most wonderful, beautiful, and inspirational thing the Priest celebrant can ever say and does say is “Happy are those who are called to His supper” which should be translated to “Happy are those who know what it truly means to be called to His supper” And that my friend beats the best homilies ever spoken.

 

[Supercatholic]

the best words coming out of a priest i’ve heard so far

“Blessed are the poor, for they know and understand the need for God in their lives, more than anyone”

Those are good words and help to keep us humble, but if you seek out the important deep true meaning of “Happy are those who are called to His supper” it will simply floor you.

 

[Saint_wannabe]

I’m 37 and a lifelong Catholic. One thing I notice about Mass is the homiles are dry, and boring. In my diocese it seems to be the norm. Rarely do you hear a homily on sin, hell, the devil, abortion, birthcontrol, purgatory, confession, the real presence in the Eucharist, doctrine or dogma. These are all things we believe in as Catholics but never or rarely ever discussed. Our priest almost talked about confession over the weekend at Mass, but danced around it without saying what it was or much about it, he hinted at it but that’s it. Its usually “we are all going to heaven” or a feel good “love your neighbor.” All these are good (love of neighbor, etc.), but they seem to be lacking (homilies) in any substance. Any idea’s on why this is the case? Is this normal?

Iv’e been reading through many of these posts here, and I think that many people hit on points that all make much sense. I think that you also have to remember a couple of things. 1. A priest is trying to emulate Jesus to show love and compassion. Did Jesus always say what people wanted to hear? No. But did Jesus many times, teach people with love, patience & understanding? Yes. 2. There are many little children in attendance that the priest may not want to scare to death, and also many teenagers that may feel that they are just being ragged on by someone who is not their parents, and they may think, “I get enough of this at home, why do I need to come here and listen to it too?” 3. I think that we need to take into consideration that priests have a soul to save also, their own. Maybe some priests feel that if they scare people away, or send them away angry, that they are responsible for that persons salvation. 4. I also think that the person receiving the homily is only going to get what he/she is ready to receive. Is Mass boring to us? Are we looking at our watches and counting the minutes until Mass is over? Are we in a big hurry to run for the exits as soon as the Mass is done? Are we aware that we are in the Sacramental presence of our Lord & Savior? Are we listening to the priest breaking down the word of God, which was just read to us? Do we ask God for understanding? Are people really in focus on the Mass, or are they there having conversations? Are people really there for the Mass, or are they being judgmental to others, looking around at distractions and how other people may be dressed, etc? Are we looking at our priest thinking, “your homily sucks.”, where is the humility in that? Are we there to give God thanks & praise, or are we there for ourselves? Are we there putting the creature before the Creator? Do we truly consider ourselves unworthy for what we are about to receive, or are those just words that we know & say from repetition? I think that all of these things and many more need to come into consideration. I once had a wise man tell me, “no humility, no holiness, no holiness, no heaven.” Those are six words that I try to live by.

 

[Saint_wannabe]

Iv’e been reading through many of these posts here, and I think that many people hit on points that all make much sense. I think that you also have to remember a couple of things. 1. A priest is trying to emulate Jesus to show love and compassion. Did Jesus always say what people wanted to hear? No. But did Jesus many times, teach people with love, patience & understanding? Yes. 2. There are many little children in attendance that the priest may not want to scare to death, and also many teenagers that may feel that they are just being ragged on by someone who is not their parents, and they may think, “I get enough of this at home, why do I need to come here and listen to it too?” 3. I think that we need to take into consideration that priests have a soul to save also, their own. Maybe some priests feel that if they scare people away, or send them away angry, that they are responsible for that persons salvation. 4. I also think that the person receiving the homily is only going to get what he/she is ready to receive. Is Mass boring to us? Are we looking at our watches and counting the minutes until Mass is over? Are we in a big hurry to run for the exits as soon as the Mass is done? Are we aware that we are in the Sacramental presence of our Lord & Savior? Are we listening to the priest breaking down the word of God, which was just read to us? Do we ask God for understanding? Are people really in focus on the Mass, or are they there having conversations? Are people really there for the Mass, or are they being judgmental to others, looking around at distractions and how other people may be dressed, etc? Are we looking at our priest thinking, “your homily sucks.”, where is the humility in that? Are we there to give God thanks & praise, or are we there for ourselves? Are we there putting the creature before the Creator? Do we truly consider ourselves unworthy for what we are about to receive, or are those just words that we know & say from repetition? I think that all of these things and many more need to come into consideration. I once had a wise man tell me, “no humility, no holiness, no holiness, no heaven.” Those are six words that I try to live by.

Correction. Those are eight words that I truly try to live by, not six. oops!!!

 

[JerrySeibert]

Talk to your Pastor, does he understand that his Holily, loses you?
Their are many books on “Effective Homilies” you can pick them up at any Christian book store. Buy your Pastore a copy and say “Here, you need this.” Privately of course.
My job causes me to do plenty of public speaking. And for years I thought I was good at it. And finally someone was honest and told me I was not. It caused me to rethink how I delivered the message.
Your Pastor would appreciate the (name removed by moderator)ut I’m certain.

 

[brockmac]

I haven’t read many of the responses to this post but I will offer a story of one from just a few weeks ago that didn’t stink. It was on the story of the Prodigal Son. The priest gave me an insight that I had never had before. He said that both sons suffered from the same misperception that they had to or could earn their father’s love. The younger son returns, humble, thinking his father will not be able to love him and the best he could hope for would be live as a servant of his father. The elder son believed that because of his faithful service, he was owed or entitled to more than his younger brother. The reality of course is that we do not earn love (whether it be from man or God). God loves us because He loves us. He needs no other reason and we cannot earn his love or increase his love for us by anything we do.

Another of my favorite homilies was also on that same story. It focussed on the line “When he was still a long way off…” pointing out that the father did not simply answer the door when the son returned. He was looking out the window, waiting, longing for him to return. It is awe inspiring to think that when I sin, not only will God accept me back and forgive me, but he is longing and waiting (and giving me the grace) for me to repent and come back to Him.

So not all homilies stink.

 

[JerseyNeaner]

I had to laugh when I read this title!

I have been blessed to have lived in places where the homilies are usually fantastic. The homilies of my current PP are amazing…so much so, that he puts them online b/c so many people were asking him to mail them copies. I think he has the last six weeks online. I save the ones that really move me before the six weeks is up and they disappear.

I have experienced the same thoughts, though, when away on vacation. I get psyched to hear a fabulous, moving homily…the priest can reach SO many people from SO many different places! This is going to be great! Nine times out of ten I can hardly keep focused.

Every priest has his own style, and not all of their styles meet all of our needs. I agree to “shop around” until you find a priest that moves you.