My Thoughts 01/03/2022

Today 1st March is the feast of St. David. More than fifty churches were dedicated to him in South Wales before the Reformation.

His emblem is a white dove descending, with a mound of earth below. This is a reference to the legend, that when he was speaking at a local synod a white dove came down on his shoulder, while at the same time the earth rose up so that he could be heard more clearly. Today we have the benefit of sophisticated sound systems in our churches and at outdoor venues, that help us hear the homily and preaching.

Many people have an ambivalent attitude to the homily at Mass. I remember one dear priest telling a group of us that whenever he started preaching on Sunday a couple would get out books and start reading. I was once given a present of a book entitled 101 things to do during a dull sermon.

The homily is an important past of the Liturgy of the Word.

Pope Francis made some good point to make about homilies in one of his weekly audiences.

Here is some of things he said :

• Catholic priests must deliver good homilies so the ‘good news’ of the Gospel can take root in people’s hearts and help them live holier lives.
• The faithful in the pews need to do their part, too. Catholics need to read the Bible more regularly so they can better understand the Mass readings, and they need to be patient with the homilist, especially if the sermon is boring, meandering or hard to understand.
• A homily must be prepared well with prayer and study, and be delivered clearly and briefly — “it must not go longer than 10 minutes.” Whoever gives the homily must recognise that isn’t about himself, but that he is “giving voice to Jesus, he is preaching the word of Jesus.”
• The homily isn’t a lecture, a lesson, a catechesis or just small talk, he said; it’s the minister continuing a dialogue the Lord has already established with His people so that His word may become part of their lives.
• “The word of the Lord ends its journey becoming flesh in us, translating itself into action, as happened in (the lives of) Mary and the saints,” he said. Just as the preacher must try to offer ‘a real service’ to the congregation, the pope said, the people in the pews must do their part, above all by paying attention and listening with a proper attitude — free from ‘subjective pretences’ and prejudices, ‘knowing that every preacher has virtues and limitations’.

As one who preaches each week I pray that St David will guide me to speak God’s word, clearly, simply, effectively and intelligently.