So I come in from cutting the grass in this torrid heat and unrelenting drought we are having and it's time to relax. Spinning the old TV dial I stumble on a fond memory from childhood TV: The Waltons. I loved it as a young teen and I love it today too. Tonight's plot: no preacher available on old Walton's Mountain so the church has tapped John-Boy(by the way that name always disturbed me) to preach Sunday's lesson. Preach on what say you? Oh, whatever tickles his fancy. Grandma Walton suggests he barely make it out of Genesis and throw in a good measure of hellfire and brimstone. Grandpaw lobbies for a softer approach, perhaps getting his inspiration from some of their favorite hymns. Daddy Walton, who never ever goes to church suggests John-Boy(man that name disturbs me) put away all those books and just use those fine words which comes to you so natural like.
In an unintended way, this Walton episode has exposed the profound problem with preaching today. In the Catholic Church, and others that follow liturgy and a liturgical calendar, at least each Sunday's readings are provided for the preacher to break open. This is done in a 3 year cycle and there is a strong rhythm to the readings. Without being critical here, other faith traditions that have no authority, no magesterium, no anything other than the whim or inclination of an individual preacher so you will hear plenty of Scripture, from here and there with little or no context. And most assuredley, this type of preaching can lack proper exegesis with little or no regard to authentic Church teaching. In many Churches it is important to know more about Scripture and verse than the meaning of God's Word. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that God did not inspire the Scriptures with chapter and verse. And God never arranged Scripture with a divine "table of contents".
My preaching is first and foremost always on the Scriptures we read in the celebration of the Mass for that day. Sure, I may use other Scriptures for context but I must break open God's Word for that day and then use the homily(preaching) to inform the individuals faith and give a call to action. Very few people, Catholic or not, will remember everything that happened in church on Sunday. But a well done homily(sermon) relying on authentic Church teaching, supported by Sacred Tradition and a Magesterium that authentically teaches will be remembered during the week if you make it real for people living real lives and give them a realistic, tangible action step to "live" that week's message from God.
Preaching should never be about the preacher. It's ok to have a personality and you certainly want to establish a connection between yourself and the congregation, but no to performance, or crazy antics or anything that actively solicits applause. The preacher should develop a clear concise message that places the hearer in the homily(sermon) with a relateable example and then very declaratively deliver the core message. This is the time for the preacher to exegete the Scripture passage and explain in a way that can be understood. What does not need to happen is a constant rereading and rereading again of Scripture. Once the Word has been broken open, or fully exegeted, the preacher can give a call to action; an implication if you will. And then close, relating back to the opening of the homily(sermon). But whatever happens in the homily(sermon) it must always be authentic Church teaching, relative to today and calling the hearer to action.
In the end good old John-Boy(that name again) punted. He basically gave a puff piece about his family and how much they mean to him. No context to Scripture just a God is God depending on how you want God to be(and this was before Oprah) and how you want to worship Him is cool. Unfortunately, there is a lot of puff piece sermons and feel good homilies to go around. After all, many a preacher wants to be popular more than authentic. How many preachers are multi-bizillioaires these days
Again, I give thanks to a Church, founded on and by Christ and who clearly gave us the Scriptures, the Bible, in the format we all know today(except for those portions conveniently left out) that insists on a liturgical cycle, Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition and a magesterium to authentically teach what God's message is for us!
But I still love the Waltons and grateful for tonight's episode!
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