Liturgy of the Word: The Homily

From the earliest days of Christian liturgy, the Word of God was not read on its own. It was accompanied by a homily explaining the meaning of the Scriptural readings and how they relate to people’s lives. Homily means “explanation” in Greek. This is rooted all the way back to ancient Jewish customs. The Levites helped the people to understand the law, so that the people would understand the reading. Jesus himself practiced this custom. He taught in synagogues throughout Galilee. The homily is crucial for the instruction of the faithful, so that they can understand the reading and apply it to their lives. The Homily is so important for passing on the faith that Vatican II taught that the homily should hold “pride of place” among the various forms of Christian instruction. The homily is to be given only by an ordained minister: a deacon, priest, or bishop. The same is true for the reading of the Gospel at Mass. The reason for the Homily to be given by an ordained minister is meant to be a sign or “guarantee” that only the teachings of the church are presented. Today let us hear Father’s explanation of the Gospel and readings and apply this understanding to our own lives.