Weak Homilies Can’t Be Tolerated

by Letters Editor · May 5, 2016

From John Faller, Johannesburg – I could not agree more with Sr Susan Rakoczy’s Point of Debate article, “A moratorium on homilies?” (April 13). If there is ever a reason needed to no longer attend Sunday Mass it is to avoid tolerating the nonsense that passes as homilies in some churches.

So often, the homilies I have been subjected to have very little, if anything, to do with the particular Sunday readings. At best, they are simply a retelling of the Bible story.

Besides that, if the priest cannot make a valid point within, at most, ten minutes, then no homily at all would be better. Carrying on and on for 15-20 minutes is no way to attract the congregation.

If the bishop is not prepared to declare a one-year moratorium as suggested by Sr Rakoczy, then at least he could instruct priests (whom he identifies as bad homilists) to read, slowly and clearly, one of the many short and meaningful homilies prepared by experts that must be available on the Internet.