As we watched the priest stride to the pulpit, I wondered-as I had so many times before — just what the message would be and how it would be delivered.
My wife and I were vacationing. We had found a small church not far from our lodgings with an 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass.
I checked my watch as he uttered his first words. No, I wasn’t in a hurry. I really don’t care how long the homily is at Mass. I am perfectly content being at Mass. But I’m always curious as to whether the length of the message has a bearing on the effectiveness of the message.
As the priest’s voice built to a crescendo during his talk about the Trinity, I was impressed by his passion. His message wavered a bit as he seemed to lose focus. But it was a dynamic effort and another cherished moment on the road in an unfamiliar Catholic church that I filed away in my memory bank.
It got me to thinking: What makes for an effective homily?
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