Good Homilies

What is a good homily?

This was the question that bothered me for some time ever since I came across a data that says priests should prepare well for their homilies.

The data implies that the respondents were expecting preachers to prepare and deliver "good homilies."

I am not an expert homilist so I will just express my thoughts here.

I attended a mass just about a few days after the May 9, 2022 election.

The homily was preached by a popular priest known for delivering memorable sermons.

As I listened to his homily, I came to understand why he is so popular among a particular group of the faithful.

I have noticed that he is very good in articulating sentiments and feelings particularly about the loss of Leni Robredo.

He captured what his audience (mostly Robredo's supporters) felt and he was able to address it by offering them words of consolation.

You can feel his deep sense of empathy.

He was delivering a homily tailored for those who were present.

Is this an example of a good homily?

One Sunday when I was still assigned in the Cathedral, I remembered being approached by one mass-goer who told me how the pastor of a certain church here in Bacolod delivers very good "teachings."

Then she made subtle insinuations that "Catholic" homilies are repetitive (sulit sulit), politically charged, very long (some lasting up to 30 minutes), laban lang estorya, ginsulit man lang ang kon ano ang ginbasa sa Gospel, depressing, boring and "not well prepared."

I am wondering if she is still going to mass or have already joined that "non-denominational" church where "good teachings" are delivered every Sunday.

How does one evaluate whether a homily is well-prepared?

There are those who think that all homilies are "good" because it is the "Holy Spirit" who guides the preachers.

In fact, it can be attested by some that after delivering a "lousy" homily people would surprisingly complement them on how touching their homily was.

It must be the work of the Holy Spirit, they contend.

Some would say many are enjoying their homilies because the people were laughing at their jokes and anecdotes.

Others would say that "it depends" on the taste of the listeners so "you cannot please everybody."

In the same vein, it is claimed that there would always be people who will find some homilies "brilliant" while others "lousy."

So, what is a well-prepared and good homily?

What are those respondents expect when they said that homilies should be well-prepared?

Is it that kind of homily filled with so much jokes that you would not know anymore whether you are in a church or a comedy bar?

Is it that kind of homily filled with pious sentimentality delivered in soft voice that you might think you are now in heaven because of so much spiritualizing?

Is it that homily filled with so many concepts that you might think you are listening to an audio version of the Encyclopedia Britannica?

Is it that kind of homily that makes you feel you are attending a seminar because it seems to be a lesson delivered straight from the classroom?

Is it that kind of homily that is so "grounded in reality" that it is difficult to distinguish whether you are attending a mass or a political rally?

Is it that kind of homily that presents a lot self-help tips which makes the audience feel they are in a counseling session?

Is it that kind of homily where the preacher talks about his own life stories and inner journey that makes the homily like listening to "Maala-ala mo kaya?"

Or, is it the combination of all these?

So, what is a good homily?

Your guess is as good as mine.