On a recent flight to New York, I traveled with a fine Catholic layman. After a few airplane stories, we began talking about sermons. It was like two executives discussing sales.

“What’s the difference, Archbishop, between a sermon and a homily,” my friend asked. By the time we had cleared that up, and talked about sermons he had liked or disliked we were descending at Kennedy airport.

Homily, Sermon, Sermily

Strictly speaking (and who does that any more?), there is no real difference. The homily proclaims the liturgy of the Word. Ideally, it takes the text of the day’s Mass, which of course, is biblically oriented, and makes that message come alive in our daily rounds. A sermon could do that too, but generations of sermons have accustomed Catholics to a series of doctrinal explanations (original sin, redemption, indulgences and the so-called “four last things,” or of moral exhortations on faith, the parables of Our Lord or the virtues.)

It used to be the practice in some dioceses to list required sermon subjects for the year. This was an honest effort to prevent an abundance of talks on contraception or summer-time Mass attendance. One theatre critic told me that on the First Sunday of Advent he always had the uncomfortable feeling, “This is where I came in.” In the older days, a preacher’s effectiveness ranged from good (the use of parables from the Gospel) to poor (steady condemnations of certain sins and tendencies, and a strong exhortation to obey that precept of the Church that required contributing to the support of the parish.) High on the list of denunciations were sins against chastity but little was said of social justice.

Greed And The Gospel

The new homily, drawn from the Old and New Testaments, with help from a beautiful context of worshipful prayers and antiphons will not change all that. But my friend had some good ideas: “Why don’t priests put this whole racial business in focus for us?” he asked. And he went on. “During those few minutes when I listen to the Word of God, I want to know how to treat my wife and children in a Christian manner,” he said. “If I give my boys a poor example of a man, doesn’t the Gospel have something to say to me? Is marriage just a series of unpleasant truths about divorce, broken homes, contraception and psychoses? We hear a lot about “let no man put asunder,” Shouldn’t we hear more about ‘What God has joined together’?” I agreed. In fact, this was the topic of one of my first sermons as a priest.

Business As Usual

Modern man lives in a complex financial society where he is seeking directional lights. My friend noted that it was not easy to find your moral way through a murky jungle of padded expense accounts, tax problems, and company relationships. He did not expect ready answers, but he did need God’s Word as a guideline. His wife’s employment of household help presented moral issues. His teenage son’s driving habits sometimes led to encounters with police, courts, penalties - especially when the example is set by his father.

“We Speak Out, But Must Listen Too” My companion thinks that the liturgy and his life are more blended and more meaningful today. He is a lector, and also tried out a doubtful baritone on the entrance rite. But there is a time to listen, too; years of familiarity have won from him a sincere interest in what the priest says in the homily. He is deepening his concern and love for the Scriptures, but he wants to put to use - in warm, contemporary,

pertinent comments.

He likes especially the brevity of the homily, and its dignity. And he believes in telling the pastor and assistants what he thinks.

He is aware that St. Paul puts upon his priest the solemn task of “preaching the Word, both when it is convenient and when it isn’t.” I remind him that most priests do not shirk preaching, but these days they meet some tough Nielson Ratings.

Look at the average Sunday community: college graduates, devout elderly people, drop-outs, workers, newspaper and television personnel and housewives. In the 1930’s, the Sunday sermon was the oratorical event of the week. Now, the celebrant of the Word competes with the words of Huntley, Brinkley, local expert newscasters, not to mention the forms of glib animal life available on the tubes.

Yet my friend and I agreed that this is not the point. The priest is not talking about disasters or wars or foreign affairs. He is not in competition. He is proclaiming the Word of God - and God’s people are waiting for it. He should be well-read and prepared; natural and clear - what parish asks for more? The diversity of his audience may disturb him, but perhaps that’s why St. Paul adds the encouraging words, “never lose patience.”

I am sure my friend is as fine a parishioner as a companion. I hope his priests appreciate how direct and honest he is. I know I was examining my homiletic conscience when we left the plane at Kennedy Airport.

Paul J. Hallinan

Archbishop of Atlanta