High Expectations – God likely expects them.
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As I sit at mass during the week and especially on Sundays, I, like others in the pews, listen to the homily of the pastor/priest/deacon. My first thought as I begin to sit down is, “Well, am I going to hear something of substance or just a re-run of the many homilies I’ve heard in the past?”
So, I looked up the meaning of homily, even though it’s obvious what it is, as a member of the Catholic Church. Google defines it as spiritual edification. Yea, I needed to then look that up as well. It appears “spiritual edification, in a general sense, refers to the process of building up, strengthening, or improving one's spiritual life and understanding. In a Christian context, it often involves promoting spiritual growth and development within the body of Christ, the Church, and individual believers.”
Well now, that brings some clarity to things. Kinda’!!! But so many times I, and others, listen to the priest’s best attempt to talk to the readings and how their messages can relate to our everyday lives and the relationship we need to have with Jesus in our own lives…and it just doesn’t do it for me.
For some time now, I’ve been frustrated with some of the homilies I’ve listened to. Waiting for some passion from the priest…..some attempt to inspire me…..some words or feeling from him to tug at my heart and soul. However, I’ve not felt that in many of the homilies I’ve listened to. I realize that, with all that priests have on their plates these days, it is not always easy to prepare the “homily of all homilies” each week. And far be it from me to claim I am some expert on the subject, when I’ve never preached a homily and clearly never will. However, please don’t fault me for wanting to leave mass with something to think about as I drive home.
I always hope the priest will grab me with energy, passion and a sense of his profound desire to send me and others home with a message that I will remember and then try and execute.
Personally, I find homilies that relate Jesus to personal stories are the most attention-grabbing, as well as those who engage the congregation or use props as a means of reinforcing a message. I listen for the kind of words that encourage me to keep listening instead of allowing my mind to wonder about what I will be fixing for dinner later, or focusing on that child sitting in front of me who just won’t sit down!” Many of the homilies begin with a great opening line, but then slowly lose their energy. And again, it’s not that I don’t appreciate the effort, but I always am hoping the second through the fourth quarter of the homily will be just as powerful as the first quarter.
I’m not looking for the ‘Great American Homily’. But I do want to be pulled into how I can more passionately love Jesus with the words of my priest. I want to feel like he is only talking to me……just like he is only talking to the person next to me. I would hope every priest would spend more time during the week preparing a homily which knocks my socks off, even if that means one or two less meetings he cannot attend during the week. If every priest exhibited the passion in his homily that Jesus’ passion exhibited for each of us on the cross, I wonder if all of us would walk away from mass, saying “WOW”.
The mass, for me, is all about the Eucharist, first and foremost. No question. But if I can envision Jesus standing on the altar and talking to me, I think I would hang on every word and hopefully be inspired to look forward to what comes next……Jesus’ body and blood in the Eucharist. It’s hard to focus intellectually when some priests deliver their homilies by reading them or only talking about the words of the readings and not relating them to our current world. Homilies should be inspiring, personal, relatable, and above all, how we can make our relationship with Jesus ever more desirable. Every once in a while, a good ‘hell and damnation’ homily to get the blood pumping might be good for all of us.
When I do hear a wonderful homily, I always make it my business to text or call the priest and let him know that he hit a single, double or maybe even a homerun. I can always tell if a priest has prepared. There is a rhythm to his words. And it is during these homilies, I know that he had to have sat down and decided on specific areas he wanted to touch on and stories he wanted to tell. Some priests are better homilists than others…..just like some piano players are better than others. But those priests who are especially good homilists, as their humility would allow them, can listen to themselves and ask “If I were sitting in a pew listening to me, would I be interested in what I am preaching or is it just another Mass where I share some traditional thoughts?"
I challenge priests to be more attentive to the powerful opportunity they have to inspire their congregation and share Jesus’ words. Words that not only come from scripture, but from their gut, their heart, from their soul and from Jesus himself. Preach the word of God and make me say when I leave mass “I want to come back next week and hear him again”!!!!
I am not a professional writer. But I love Jesus and I had enjoyed writing articles for our parish bulletin until space became an issue. I now write for me, but would like to continue to share my thoughts with others. A friend and priest has always encouraged me to write and find an avenue to share my thoughts.
