Word to the Wise
Saturday, October 11, 2025 - Saturday in the 27th Week in Ordinary Time
[Joel 4:12-21 and Luke 11:27-28]While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed!" He replied, "Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it." [Luke]
OCTOBER 11 [Pope St.John XXIII]
Jesus turns the good wishes of the lady in the crowd from the nurturing image of mother/child to the nurturing image of the word of God.
Some years ago, the bishops of the USA published a document on preaching (Preaching the Mystery of Faith, 2013). A short time later, the Vatican followed suit (Homiletic Directory, 2014). Both documents speak to the eucharistic significance of the homily because the People of God are being fed, as it were, by the Word of God.
From what I hear from folks in the pews, there is a lot more work to be done to improve the quality of liturgical preaching, whether it be at the celebration of the Eucharist or at any of the other sacraments. We Dominicans bear a special responsibility in this regard because the official title of our Order is "The Order of Friars Preachers!"
It is true that preaching encompasses more than verbal proclamation, but the Sunday homily has a particular significance. I would urge that the daily celebration should not be therefore downplayed in regard to preaching. I realize that busy pastors are beset with many responsibilities that make homiletic preparation difficult for Sunday, let alone for the weekdays. I also realize that pulpit preaching is an art, not a science, and skills vary. But the task of proclaiming the Word of God is, according to the Vatican II document on the priesthood (Presbyterorum Ordinis), is the first and most important task of the priest (and Deacon too).
One of the great theologians of the Second Vatican Council, the Dominican Yves Congar O.P. wrote that in a place where there was good preaching but no celebration of the Eucharist, and in another place where there was celebration of the Eucharist but no preaching - after thirty years, the place where there was preaching would be more Christian! It's something to think about! AMEN