Boring Homilies

by

Ric F. Maulion

( My  4th entry to My 500 Words Per Day for Jeff Goins 31 days challenge(

  Today is Sunday, January 5, 2014 and just attended the regular 6:30 AM mass and played basketball later with my SatSun buddies at Bulua Covered Court to maintain healthy lungs and subsequently sustain too my resonant voice having music as my covenant with the Lord. Actually I stayed late last night and sleep early dawn. Thought even of not going to mass. But thanks to my wife Mayet maybe inspired by her guardian angels surprisingly prodded me on  “Wake up guys way to go!” she reminded .

 Bad vibes though for the year as the homily was already on when I arrived! But nice for her returning back the compliment my earlier tacit request  confided the other day on the importance of  regular and on-time attendance of Sunday Masses. Not known by her tough is how boring sermon to me turn off. Mass is a must for all practicing Catholics alright  but boring homilies in a pulpit to me is a bad trip.  I think this is supposedly even  a No-no among  priests and homilists. Must also be the least mistake any priests (or pastors) should never commit while they are in the Ministry.

I remember how my spiritual director back then at Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro imbuing  us greater sense of  understanding and appreciation of the Holy Eucharist. That by attending even a second mass until you connect the part of the mass you missed earlier is necessary or half-attended only your fellowship with men to the Lord.   Isn’t it is the highest form of worship anyway  as all faithful participate and partake  bread and wine during the Holy Communion only the priest holding  the power as alter Christus could  transform the bread and wine into body and blood of Christ. This as he intoned “Do this in remembrance of me!”

           

This what normally gives me spiritual highs during the mass  enhanced by the beauty of liturgical songs from Psalm after the first reading on to solemn songs of Alleluia, gift offering, singing of Holy, holy during the elevation of sacred host and blessing of wine on to the hymns of Great Amen, Lord’s Prayer, Lamb of God and Communion songs.

That would have been  an ideal situation; unfortunately spoiled by homilists not doing their homework. This is incidentally maybe an isolated cases as it has been observed that priests in rural areas and municipality have consistently dished out plausible homilies. Maybe, diocesan priests in the cities are just more busy preoccupied with many obligations compare to those at rural areas. But this should be taken as an excuse for this is where they are required  to excel in and more so,  deliver the goods to their captured faithful church goers . Besides they are looked up to with respect in their lofty position as respective princes of the Church in the parishes.

I recalled several incidents that sometimes concerned faithful attending the mass would stand up during homilies and engaged to rebuttal on priests dishing out irrelevant  homilies. This excluding the silent majority who are just accepting whatever the priests rants  hook, line and sinker for fear of anathema or receiving fire and brimstones up there.

Whatever happened to Homiletic's subject in Theology? I’m wondering  if this is still part of the curriculum in Theology at the Seminary gauging from not so nice commentaries from the parishioners. It was and premium was given on this during my time and rigid one as we’re required to give our best shot in the pulpit. I remember even how I was hooked up by then to powerful homilies of Rex Humbard  of his Worldwide Outreach Ministry or of Rev. Billy Graham and practicing the draft until becoming part of the subconscious at the beach, forest, farm or just everywhere to secure the best delivery of homily in chapel.

Maybe it’s time to change St. John Vianey as the Diocesan Seminary patron Saint to give justice to the Word of God. Why not St. Paul, an erstwhile Christian persecutor  turned a strong pillar of the church or St. Andrew, the true fisherman as patron?

 Of course, diocesan priests vis a vis to religious priests need reconsideration of their training on scriptures. But they should be dead serious on their vocation as studying, practicing, sharing and living the Words of God – themselves becoming Living Gospel - should be the first order of the day.  Time to review basic  communication skills too as it seems doing their homework, reflection and preparation are sorely missed. I hate to say this but reading, updating themselves on the issue, leveling up to the needs of the times has been relegated in the dustbin. I hope not and if fact  I salute priests and sincerely  congratulating them for their industry and fire in their homilies making themselves deserving Alter Christus. If not why not allow some learned authorities from the ranks of professional practicing Catholics to  deliver sometimes homily of course with the blessing of the celebrant. Weird and new idea? Not actually as it has been practiced in the Seminary and other worship places.

Bp. Socrates, CBCP elect says it all – priests should be serious in their homily, brief where parishioners could relate. Similar concern became the call of  Pope Francis requiring even the priests to have their sermons come alive in squatter area and just anywhere  else where they are most needed. We are already living the past Vatican II of 1964. For many decades, it seems we have not really let the fresh air promised in that vital document, felt and seen during masses. Hope 2014 truly becomes time of enlightenment and people  standing  on the pulpit should start it all.