Effective homilies leave indelible mark

By Effie Caldarola
Catholic News Service

In Rome one Sunday morning, I walked past one of the city’s many churches. A small group of smokers, all men, were chatting quietly on the church steps outside. It took me a minute to realize these guys had ducked out during the homily.

I personally don’t know anyone who leaves during the homily, but how many of us have been guilty of checking out mentally?

In June, Pope Francis spoke to a group of Sicilian clergy about homilies. It wasn’t the first time this pope has spoken on the subject, and he often mentions that homilies should be brief; under eight minutes was the pope’s advice this time.

It makes sense. One British priest repeated a humorous phrase among homilists – “If you haven’t struck oil in seven minutes, stop boring.”

But if you read what Pope Francis has advised on homilies, you see his emphasis isn’t on time, despite the headlines. Brief homilies are the most effective, but most of us aren’t as concerned with quantity as quality.

Too often homilies, said Pope Francis, “are abstract, and instead of awakening the soul, they put it to sleep.” He might have added that sometimes it’s more than the soul that goes to sleep.

A poor homily, the pope said, “descends to moralism 

and abstract concepts; it presents the Gospel with detachment, as if it were outside time, far from reality.”

Special effects

My friend Father Dan is a good, lively homilist. I remember his homily with the rice container, and he’s probably not the only priest who has used this little trick.

With help from an altar server, Father Dan fills a large container with rice and then attempts to add several small balls to the container. They don’t fit. Then, he empties the container, and puts the balls in first. When he pours in the rice, everything fits, because the rice drifts easily around the balls.

The point?

The balls represent our prayer time. Do we prioritize time with God or do we get busy, stuffing all that rice safely in the container, promising to take time with the Lord later, a time which somehow, sometimes, we can’t fit in?

It was a simple homily, one with a practical and Gospel-inspired viewpoint, presented by a relatable homilist.

Childish, you say? Homilies with visual gimmicks don’t always work. But I remember this homily 20-odd years after I first heard it. Sometimes, even now, I recall it when I start unloading the dishwasher in the morning with the excuse, “I’ll pray later.” That memory changes my behavior.

I’d say that’s an effective homily.

We’ve all been to scolding homilies or political homilies. I was at a homily once where half the congregation applauded mid-homily while half sat on their hands.

Did that homily advance the discussion? Enlighten us on the readings? Did it bring unity that Sunday and invite reflection? It invited me to find Mass elsewhere.

Long ago, a gentleman at my parish would critique the homily each Sunday and drop his comments into the offertory basket. I found this amusing, but now I think it might be genius.

Obviously, it showed he was listening. And I think his comments were good-natured, generous and well-intentioned, which is important. A congregant like that might keep a homilist on his toes.

Charitable feedback

How long has it been since you’ve told a homilist you really appreciate his words?

It’s hard to create a good homily week after week in the midst of a busy schedule. And a little constructive feedback, done with charity, could be helpful.

At least it means we’re paying more attention than those guys on the steps in Rome.

Effie Caldarola is a columnist for Catholic News Service.