PASTOR'S COLUMN SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2024
An effective preacher does not begin his preparation with: “What do I want to talk about in the homily,” but rather: “Holy Spirit, what do You know all of us needs to hear, and how can I be Your mouthpiece?”
Beloved Family:
Imagine the following hypothetical scenario. You come to Saint Mary on a Sunday and catch sight of a fellow Catholic you have not seen in church for quite some time. You are overjoyed and make it a point to catch up with and speak to the individual on the way in from the parking lot. You do not say anything sarcastic, like: “Well, I didn’t expect to see you here” … you simply give a warm greeting. The individual volunteers: “The last time I was here, they talked about money; I come here to hear the gospel, not finances.” Your heart sinks. Because you have been able to hear a consistent sequence of weekend homilies, you know that it is the exception that “money” is the theme of preaching. However, you also know that this particular weekend is designated for the Catholic Charities Appeal— hence, there is going to be more than a passing reference to donations. At that moment, part of you thinks: Really, God?
What does this have to do with the price of coffee on the commodities exchange, so to speak? In my years of ministry—including my twenty-one years as Pastor of Saint Mary—it has been my experience that those who only “hear from the pulpit” occasionally can gain an impression that the preacher exclusively takes on one subject or one “tone” of preaching. In reality, there may be represented, over a course of weeks (including weekday homilies) quite a range of emphasis and tone. This illustrates another practical implication of the first precept of the Church:
The first precept (“You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.") requires the faithful to participate in the Eucharistic celebration when the Christian community gathers together on the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord. CCC 2042
Analogously, within a family, some days Dad’s tender and affectionate side is going to come forward in his interactions with Mom and the other members; on other days, his strict and forceful tone may need to be accentuated. That does not mean “Dad” is two-faced. Presuming that the family members are seeing and interacting with him daily, the perspective is going to be balanced: Dad is motivated by love on all days, equally when he is praising as when he is admonishing.
An effective preacher does not begin his preparation with: “What do I want to talk about in the homily,” but rather: “Holy Spirit, what do You know all of us needs to hear, and how can I be Your mouthpiece?” On some days, within the readings for Mass, God’s “tender side” comes through powerfully. Conversely, some sets of readings present God (including the Father and the Son, Jesus), through His spokespersons such as the prophets, asserting His justice and His intention to hold His people accountable. All of this comes from one and the same God. In the life of a community, I would say that while each and every homily ought to express a complete thought, still no single homily ought to be seen as standing on its own in utter abstraction with what has preceded and what will proceed. Faith is not a single monologue—it is a conversation. I hope this is instructive in regard to pastoral expectations.
Let His Peace be with you,
Fr. Stephen
