YEAR OF MERCY – ‘A RENEWAL OF PREACHING’

INTRODUCTION

We offer these resources as liturgical encouragement during

this Summer Season of the Year of Mercy. How can we build on

what we have already begun? How can we now introduce

something new and fresh? Fr Joseph O’Hanlon has offered

homily resources from the beginning of the Year of Mercy and

he will continue to do so until the end of the year. Julia Palmer,

Adult Formation Advisor, Fr Gerry Murphy and Patricia Stoat

(Chair of the Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission and

Cathedral Parishioner) are attempting to both frame and apply

these biblical resources. We invite you to let us know your

reactions before we start a second step form Sundays 13 -15.

Please tell us what was useful, what was not, and anything

different you would like.

RE-IMAGINING WHAT THE PARISH IS ABOUT

One commentator has claimed that “one of the most profound meditations on the life, vocation and

role of a minister who preaches to ever emerge from Rome is contained in Evangelii Gaudium 2013

by Pope Francis.” (Andrew Cameron – Mowat SJ, Pastoral Review May 2016). He claims that there

remains much to be done for a correct and complete assimilation of the Constitution on the Sacred

Liturgy on the part of the baptised and Ecclesial Communities. This work needs to be done in both

the preacher and the congregation. Pope Francis seeks for “a renewal of preaching which offers both

believers, as well as the lukewarm and non-practising, new joy in faith and fruitfulness in the work of

evangelisation.” (EG 11)

Pope Francis places great emphasis on the role of the parish in this ministry, “the parish is not an

outdated institution but needs to be a place of flexibility, growth, renewal and discernment. (EG 28)

Its ministers and its members need to reflect frequently about the questions:

“What is happening among these people?”

“How is the Lord leading us to serve the people better?”

“What do our people truly desire?”

Can the parish prove itself capable of

self-renewal and adaptability, seeking to

live in the midst of the homes of her sons

and daughters? Is it really in contact

with the homes and lives of its people,

or is it out of touch with people or a self-

absorbed group of people made up of

the chosen few? Pope Francis says “We

must admit that the call to review and

renew our parishes hasn’t yet brought

them nearer to people or made the,

environments of living communion and

participation, and completely mission

orientated.” (EG 28)

YEAR OF MERCY – ‘A RENEWAL OF PREACHING’

RE-IMAGINING WHAT THE HOMILY IS ABOUT

Pope Francis himself seems to come alive in the act of preaching. He does this in two ways; first

when he has a text to read and secondly when he either spontaneously departs from the printed

word or preaches without any notes. It seems as though it is especially in these “supercharged”

moments that he becomes most human and connects most directly to the hearts of those who hear

him. With this Pope, in his act of preaching, there is an undeniable sense of the sacramentality of the

word proclaimed and preached: Christ is speaking to us now, through him; God is here!

Pope Francis situates the homily as an essential part of the dialogue between God and his people

which happens in the liturgy. He says the preacher needs to know the heart of his community and

know where the desire for God is alive and where it is barren. He wants the preacher to guide the

assembly into life-changing communion with Christ in the Eucharist.

He should do this by having a “mother’s conversation” with his listeners. “We should preach in the

same way as a mother speaks to her child – we should be like a mother who knows her children’s

concerns and learns from them.” (EG 139)

PREACHERS SHOULD:

“- have a physical and emotional closeness - a warmth in their tone of voice - an unpretentiousness in their manner of speaking - a joy in their gestures - have a maternal and ecclesial spirit - enjoy speaking to God’s people - express their love through words - move beyond the moralistic - move beyond doctrine - move beyond biblical exegesis - present each word of Scripture as a gift before it is a demand - speak from the heart - join the loving heart of the Lord to the loving heart of his people.” (EG 141,142)

NOW IS THE TIME TO RECONSIDER OUR HOMILY PREPARATION

“PREPARATION FOR PREACHING is so important a task that a prolonged time of STUDY, PRAYER, REFLECTION and PASTORAL CREATIVITY should be devoted to it.” (EG 145)

A METHOD OF PREPARING HOMILIES

“Here is a way to devote quality time to this precious ministry. Each week a sufficient portion of personal and community time should be dedicated to this task.” (EG 124)

THE FIRST STEP – Give the text time and prayer

Call upon the Holy Spirit in prayer and give your entire attention to the biblical text, which needs to be the basis of preaching. To interpret a biblical text, we need to be patient, to put aside all other concerns, and give it our time, interest and undivided attention. Try to discover the central message the author primarily wanted to communicate - is it consolation or to correct errors, exhortation or teaching, or praise, or for missionary outreach? (EV147)

SECOND STEP – Personalize the Word

“Exegesis, though necessary, is not enough. Allow the word to penetrate your thoughts and feelings and bring about a new outlook in yourself. The Sunday readings will resonate in all their brilliance in the hearts of the faithful if they have first done so in the heart of their pastor.” (EV 149). What is essential is that the preacher is certain that God loves him, that Jesus Christ has saved him and that his love always has the last word.

THIRD STEP – Spiritual Reading

Use a “lectio divina” method of reading and hearing the text. Ask yourself “What does this text say TO ME? What is it about my life that God wants to change by this text? What troubles me or attracts me or moves me about this word. (EV 153)

FOURTH STEP – Listen to people

“A preacher has to contemplate both the word and his people. He needs to be able to link the message of a biblical text to a human situation, to an experience which cries out for the light of God’s word”. (EG 154) Highlight experiences like joyful reunions, moments of disappointments, the fear of being alone, compassion for the sufferings of others, uncertainty about the future, concern for a loved one. Don’t respond to questions nobody is asking!

YEAR OF MERCY – ‘A RENEWAL OF PREACHING’

FIFTH STEP – Focus on your presentation of the message

“ – use examples

learn to use IMAGES and to appeal to IMAGERY which touch both mind and heart

use simple language. Adapt to the listeners’ language

have a clear unity, order and development

be positive, don’t be mired in laments, complaints, criticism and reproaches, offer hope and a way out of negativity” (EG 159)

Pope Francis keeps inviting us to put ourselves in the shoes of the Sunday congregation – what is

their experience when they come to Mass on a Sunday? The more they feel the presence of their

loving Saviour, the more willing will they be to be regularly present, to be renewed and to be sent by

Christ. ‘The Church must be a place of mercy freely given, where everyone can feel welcomed, loved,

forgiven and encouraged to live the good life of the Gospel’ (EG 114). The liturgy and especially our

presentation of the Scripture needs to help people feel his and live it.

REVIEW YOUR HOMILIES

1. How does your method of preparation compare with Pope Francis’ five steps?

2. Which step is your greatest strength?

3. Which step is your greatest weakness?

4. How do you think you can improve your homilies?

5. What has most struck you in these brief summaries

PREPARING

A HOMILY

BIDDING PRAYERS

YEAR C

TENTH SUNDAY JUNE 5TH/6TH 2016

1. We pray for all those who lead God’s people especially Francis, our Pope, Patrick our Bishop

and all priests and deacons. Where there is darkness and fear may they bring light and hope.

PAUSE – Lord in your Mercy

R/ Hear our prayer

2. We pray for all children and young people as they return to school after half term. Teach us

how to cherish and guide them and accompany their parents.

PAUSE – Lord in your Mercy

R/ Hear our prayer

3. We pray for ourselves, that like Jesus we will have compassion for all our neighbours in need

and may reach out to all those who hurt and struggle.

PAUSE – Lord in your Mercy

R/ Hear our prayer

4. We pray for all those who have recently died and whose anniversaries occur at this time. We

remember those who are terminally ill and all those who are caring for the sick. We

remember especially those who lost their lives in the Battle of Jutland, one hundred years

ago this week.

PAUSE – Lord in your Mercy

R/ Hear our prayer

We pause for a moment’s silent prayer.

We ask Our Lady to pray with us as we say Hail Mary……….

YEAR OF MERCY – ‘A RENEWAL OF PREACHING’

ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 11TH/12TH JUNE [Sunday 12th June is the official celebration of the Queen’s 90th birthday; these suggestions for bidding prayers

reflect this]

Introduction

As we celebrate the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth let us give thanks for her life and her dedication, and ask

God to bless this nation and all of us, and guide us in the way of mercy and peace.

When we confess what we have done wrong, God is always ready to forgive us and restore us to life in Christ –

let us turn to him in confidence as we make our prayers.

For the Church: that she may always be ready to open the doors of mercy to those who have done wrong, and

to offer hope to those who seek forgiveness, and a new beginning

Lord, hear us / Lord, graciously hear us

For the world: as we celebrate our Queen’s 90th birthday, we pray that all our political leaders, and other

heads of state, may be inspired by her example of dedication to public service and the common good.

Lord hear us / Lord, graciously hear us

For people in need: let us pray for people who may be afraid to ask forgiveness; for people who are poor and

marginalised, or who think the Church is not for them; for those who have suffered abuse or rejection; that

they may find the mercy they seek

Lord, hear us / Lord, graciously hear us

For ourselves: we pray that we may always be ready to forgive one another, and witness to the love that God

has shown to us in Christ

Lord, hear us / Lord, graciously hear us

For the sick: We pray for those who are sick in mind or body [names]: may they be comforted, and may those

who care for them show them God’s love.

For the dead: We pray for all who have died: [names] may God have mercy on them, and grant them life and

peace in his presence.

Lord hear us / Lord graciously hear us

We pray with Mary, Queen of Heaven: Hail Mary ….

In silence we pray for our own intentions

Collect

God our Father, you sent your Son into the world to teach us to be merciful, and to forgive one another as you

have forgiven us; grant that by your grace we may grow in love for one another, and witness by our lives to the

love you have shown us. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Reading List for Ordinary Time C:

VERBUM DOMINI Benedict XVI Part II Verbum In Ecclesia The Liturgy, Privileged Setting for the Word of God (pp.73-90) The Word of God in the Life of the Church (pp. 91 – 112)

HOMILETIC DIRECTORY Congregation for Divine Worship & The Discipline of The Sacraments §141 The Sundays in Ordinary Time

§145 Year C

EVANGELII GAUDIUM: THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL Pope Francis I

II. The Homily (§135 - §159)

SOME USEFUL BOOKS:

Christ in the Gospels of Ordinary Sundays Raymond E Brown

The Gospel According to Luke Liturgical Year C (pp 58-61 & 68-80)

Robert C. Tannehill, Luke: Abingdon New Testament Commentaries, Nashville:

Abingdon press, 1966

(Ed) Martin McNamara, M.S.C., Making the most of the Weekday Readings, Dublin:

Dominican Publications, 1977

Joseph O’Hanlon, The Jesus Who Was/The Jesus Who Is, Dublin: The Columba Press,

2005

John (Joseph) O’Hanlon, “The Story of Zacchaeus and the Lukan Ethic”, in journal for

the Study of the New Testament, Issue 12, July 1981

Tom O’Loughlin (Professor at Nottingham University, Explaining The Lectionary (CTS)

WE ENCOURAGE FEEDBACK ON THIS BOOKLET. WHAT FURTHER INFORMATION WOULD YOU FIND

HELPFUL DURING THE YEAR OF MERCY?

EMAIL: formation@nrcdt.org.uk or ourladysbulwell@hotmail.co.uk