During these days of the Christmas Octave, I won't have any homilies to post. Because I have three different homilies to give--Christmas Midnight, Christmas Day, and Holy Family--all in the span of about three days, I just don't have the time nor the ganas to go through my usual composition and editing process.
This is actually pretty dangerous, because it's when you don't prepare well that you end up preaching too long and too randomly. One of my favorite quotes to apply to homiletic preparation is from Antoine de Saint Exupéry: “A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."
That's my definition of elegance. It's good to keep in mind when it comes to the curious intersection of theological reflection, salesmanship, and theater that is preaching in the assembled Body of Christ. You don't want to be one of those priests who suffer from the dreaded 'banana problem,' named for the little girl who said, "I know how to spell 'banana,' but I don't know when to stop."
3 comments:
hi Fr. C!
just wanted to comment on your "not posting" any homilies for these holy days that we're in the midst of celebrating now. i'm sure everyone can understand and respect the fact that, because you have so many Masses to prepare for, it's difficult to post your homilies. i also wanted to say that your homily at the 10:00am Mass on Christmas day was very good. thank you! PEACE!
tara t
hi again, Fr.C!
even though i don't have your homily to read and reflect on before Mass tonight, i have reflected on the readings and thought i would share my reflection. in the first reading from the book of Genesis(Genesis 15:1-6;21:1-3), i feel that we are being asked to consider our vocation and purpose in life, in whatever state of life we have chosen, i.e., single; married; religious life; priesthood; etc... i think that it's important to take the time to pray and reflect on how and if our main goal in life is to serve God. there are so many ways we can serve God through our talents and just by being kind, loving, generous and peaceful people! the second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 11:8,11-12,17-19) gives us hope. i feel that even if life sometimes gets us down or if we feel lost or discouraged, all we have to do is continue praying (never give up on prayer) and even just go outside on a clear, starry night and look up at the stars - it will remind us that God is always there and the possibilities are as vast as the stars in the sky! finally, the good news we hear from the Gospel of Luke (Luke 2:22-40) is telling us, i think, that we need to be counter-cultural, especially in today's world that seems to be so worldly, materialistic and me-centered. it's important for us, as Catholic Christians, to pray regularly, to receive Jesus in the Eucharist frequently, to make sacrifices, to put people ahead of material things, to give rather than receive, to be thankful for what we have and to be PEACEFUL!
~tara t~
hi Fr. C! GREAT homily at the 5:00 pm Mass this evening! thank you for your inspiration! hope you have a nice Sunday and i'll see you in a few days for one of the new year's day Masses.
PEACE!
tara t
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