I was curious to check out what Father Pfleger (yeah, the Obama one) had to say this last weekend after the election. So I Googled my way over to the website of St. Sabina, which apparently isn't a Catholic church but is rather one of those "Faith Communities." Then, once I found the "Recorded Sermons" page (which took a while, since I was looking for homilies, trusting that a Catholic church would follow Canon Law)...
After checking it out, I'd have to say it was fascinating preaching. I'm not sure I'd go back to worship there after it, but it's their community's cup of tea, not mine, obviously. But it was great preaching.
Unfortunately, unless I missed something, it didn't seem to have anything to do with "[explaining the norms of Christian life] from the sacred text." And last Sunday (the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica) had such beautiful readings and imagery on which to homilize!
I might also add that the "sermon" was very near 50 minutes. I would love to hear a homily that long sometimes - particularly if it really challenged us on living our faith in the context of the readings of the day. But I know a lot of people who would leave when the Mass itself hit 50 minutes (yeah, the Mass... and this is just the homily!)
If the boys were behaving, I would've stuck around for the whole thing, out of respect and because I was really there for the Eucharist (which would, of course, follow).
Would you stick around? Would you have left?
Canon 767 - (1) Among the forms of preaching, the homily, which is part of the liturgy itself and is reserved to a priest or deacon, is preeminent; in the homily the mysteries of faith and the norms of Christian life are to be explained from the sacred text during the course of the liturgical year. (2) A homily must be given at all Masses on Sundays and holy days of obligation which are celebrated with a congregation, and it cannot be omitted except for a grave cause...
After checking it out, I'd have to say it was fascinating preaching. I'm not sure I'd go back to worship there after it, but it's their community's cup of tea, not mine, obviously. But it was great preaching.
Unfortunately, unless I missed something, it didn't seem to have anything to do with "[explaining the norms of Christian life] from the sacred text." And last Sunday (the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica) had such beautiful readings and imagery on which to homilize!
I might also add that the "sermon" was very near 50 minutes. I would love to hear a homily that long sometimes - particularly if it really challenged us on living our faith in the context of the readings of the day. But I know a lot of people who would leave when the Mass itself hit 50 minutes (yeah, the Mass... and this is just the homily!)
If the boys were behaving, I would've stuck around for the whole thing, out of respect and because I was really there for the Eucharist (which would, of course, follow).
Would you stick around? Would you have left?
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