Darragh McGann
Like any audience, a priest has to know his congregation when delivering a homily, writes Darragh McGann
For as long as I can remember I have heard people saying that Mass is boring, as an explanation or an excuse for not attending. I was an altar server for eight years and would often get myself into trouble in school speaking up for the Church when I would hear classmates saying such things.
Of course I never stopped to think back then, that while I was serving at Mass, I was actually doing something and didn’t have time to think if they might be right. To me, going to Mass was an obligation, a duty that I had signed up for, having received First Holy Communion and Confession, and it was not right to question anything.
When I finished as an altar server, I joined the Cathedral Folk Choir and I loved it. The music was very uplifting and the Mass was packed out the door. As I reflect back on it, there was a real feel-good factor going on with upbeat music and there was a great engagement by the priests too. You could sense that even their spirits were uplifted. It was at this time that the laity was invited to proclaim the Word of God and also the distribution of Holy Communion as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist. We really were a vibrant parish with a lot of involvement by the congregation.
Seminary
By the time I entered seminary to study for the priesthood in 1991, I had already become a reader at Mass and I have to say, I really enjoyed it. I would spend a lot of time preparing the readings, getting to know their meaning so that I could do justice to the author in proclaiming the message that each reading contained.
In fact with some of the readings, I might never have to look at the lectionary as I was so familiar with them. I preferred to make eye contact with people or at least let the people think I was looking at them.
I only stayed in seminary for a year because in my heart I wasn’t ready to make that commitment, but when my bishop suggested that I might study a diploma in Sacred Liturgy in Carlow, I jumped at the chance. I loved everything to do with liturgy and to be able to study it, was like a dream come true. The greatest highlight of that year was when I chose to do my thesis on the Ministry of the Word. I spent many hours studying the Old and New Testaments and Gospels getting to know the writers and learning about how to best deliver the message that each one contained.
Accepting that each reading was in essence, The Word of God, I wanted to present a thesis that put the emphasis on what God was trying to teach his people through the spoken word in the readings that he inspired.
I wrote at length about pronunciation, using abbreviations, breathing techniques, placing emphasis on the key messages to be made and above all, getting to know what the reading meant before actually delivering it. In truth, the point I was trying to make is that we all need to respect The Word of God and to be given the opportunity to proclaim that same Word is indeed an honour in and of itself.
But with that comes great responsibility as the reader must remember that the people to whom they are proclaiming to, have themselves come to be inspired, have their burden lightened, have their fears calmed, be given hope in time of trial and to experience the great love, understanding and mercy of God.
Knowledge
As I now reflect back on the studies I completed and the knowledge I have gained and tried to put into practice, I am also conscious that the same responsibility of proclaiming to the people also applies to priests.
The Catholic Church in Ireland has taken quite a hit in recent years and people have started straying away, questioning their own faith. I believe priests too have been finding it difficult to remain enthusiastic about the message they are delivering.
Yet I am reminded of a quote from Luke Chapter 24 when the two disciples are walking on the road to Emmaus and Jesus walks with them. They of course do not recognise him but he asks what they are talking about. It is clear from this passage that the spirits of these disciples have been broken and maybe they have even lost faith in what they were doing, but it is later at the breaking of bread that their eyes are opened and their faith restored.
After Jesus had left, one of the disciples commented “Did not our hearts burn within us as he explained the scriptures to us?”
I know in recent years that I have had days when I found it difficult to find hope, yet when present before the Blessed Sacrament, I knew that Jesus understood and he is all the time reaching out to me and this is made manifest for us all through the words, actions and witness of the priest.
Sadly for a lot of people, their only attendance at Mass might be at Christmas and Easter and also maybe a funeral or wedding liturgy. But even if it is just at Christmas, I truly believe what will touch their hearts and souls is a warm welcome firstly at the beginning of Mass and then a great delivery of a homily that is based on the celebration itself and is filled with hope for tomorrow.
Unfortunately, I have witnessed too many priests producing a written text for a homily and reading directly from the script without even once looking at the congregation. Often times I can’t even understand what is been said as it’s over before it’s begun. Sometimes the homily itself bears no reflection to the message of the Gospel reading. How many times have you left the church after Mass and you can’t even recall a message from the homily?
Audience
Like any audience, a priest has to know his congregation and as a priest whose responsibility it is to proclaim the Gospel and deliver the homily, it is vital that thought and preparation must go in to touching the hearts and souls of those who have come together for the Eucharistic celebration and, whose desire it is to be fed, not just with the body of Christ but also by the Word of God.
With good support and encouragement from the laity, I believe that priests can regain that confidence to speak from the heart and share the message that God wants his people to know, one of the reasons that he chose these disciples to minister as his representatives on Earth.
No one ever said that standing up in front of people and speaking was easy, it’s far from it. But when you have done your preparation, you know your congregation and ultimately believe in what you want to say, well, God will do the rest, as nothing is impossible to him.
Just as Jesus sent out the 72 disciples to bring God’s message of love and mercy, let us all renew ourselves in his love and go out there, bringing hope, healing and love to his people, especially to those who have forgotten that God loves them.
I believe it is imperative that we as the lay faithful reach out and support our priests and assist them every day in embracing the art of delivery of God’s love and mercy for his people and show them that we appreciate the great sacrifices that they themselves have made in answering God’s call to become persons of Christ.
Darragh McGann is a singer/songwriter and lector.