Ban Sunday homilies
Some people think I should never go to mass as I am in favour of divorce, IVF and other diverse stuff unfathomable to the Holy See and his papal holiness. Maybe I should join the Moonies or be chic and join the Buddhists.
Anyway I feel good with Jesus Christ and his teachings (not sure how good He feels with me) so I’ll go on attending His mass in Catholic churches. I definitely do not agree that the rest of the gods and religions are a load of hogwash. They might be unbelievable—just as everything we say and believe in might be—but in that same way our religion sounds like pure hogwash too.
Just think of our religion in all its details—or rather don’t as this piece might then become a pure sheet of blasphemy. And the last thing I need is to be bashed (metaphorically of course) even more by the fundamentalists.
Notwithstanding all criticism and advice I do go to mass and I do believe in a lot of things which need quite a leap of faith to be believed in. For my grievous sins I sometimes have to hear such balderdash by priests that I balk at the madness of the Holy See or whoever oversees and decides on such things. If they were to tell all priests to stop delivering a sermon every Sunday maybe the congregation would flock back in droves.
Try going to mass without a sermon on a weekday and you actually enjoy it. At least the times I go I do. Add most homilies and the joy magically disappears and the congregation seems more intent on looking at their watch with fond thoughts of what’s for lunch, supper or what’s cooking on TV.
I’m sure the monotony of most sermons has driven many a sheep out of the fold. Once I was at a mass where an especially boring, long-winded sermon was being inflicted on us sinners. One of the things the priest said was that mass—and the sermon—is the remedy for most terrestrial ills.
I nearly shot to attention out of my stupour and screamed out that I’m sure insomnia could easily be cured for evermore if his sermons could be broadcast live and in full glory to all insomniacs. “Listen to this and cringe slowly into catatonic sleep” could be his winning tagline if he ever ventures into branding his sleeping drug.
I’m no religious expert—even if I spout on many a time about religion, God and His clerics—and hardly know what liturgical benefit the sermon has on the priests or the congregation. All I know is that if the sermon is stopped we could then get down to hear and enjoy the words of Christ and we could also add on a few hymns of praise.
Priests are like politicians—they have to talk every Sunday even if they have nothing to add to the hearers or readers. They, and some silly bloggers like me, go on and on. Maybe if we all copy those quirkily silent Trappist monks and shut up our message could be crisper.
Popular Stories
In Discussion
16 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Edward Xuereb
Sep 3rd 2012, 22:36
Dear Victor,
I am a parish priest and have to deliver a sermon every week. Obviously I do not agree with certain things you said. Thus, for instance, if I tell you that faith comes from hearing and that God wants to save the world through the foolishness of preaching, I’ll be probably ‘guilty’ of starting another sermon. Oh well, my friend, I do appreciate your witty observations, though.
Besides, I would like to borrow the words of a most famous preacher, St. Gregory the Great, and humbly apply them to myself, even though I am less than a dwarf compared to him. He said that the preacher is like a watchman: “Now a watchman always takes up his position on the heights so that he can see from a distance whatever approaches. Likewise whoever is appointed watchman to a people should live a life on the heights so that he can help them by taking a wide survey. These words are hard to utter, for when I speak it is myself that I am reproaching. I do not preach as I should nor does my life follow the principles I preach so inadequately. I do not deny that I am guilty, for I see my torpor and my negligence. Perhaps my very recognition of failure will win me pardon from a sympathetic judge. … Who am I — what kind of watchman am I? I do not stand on the pinnacle of achievement, I languish rather in the depths of my weakness. And yet the creator and redeemer of mankind can give me, unworthy though I be, the grace to see life whole and power to speak effectively of it. It is for love of him that I do not spare myself in preaching him”.
william cauchi
Aug 30th 2012, 15:36
Sermons are like repetitions of what he said, she said, they said.
Try telling something around a table of 6 people and you are sure that at the end the story is very different from the original one.
Try telling the same story around the same table for 2000 years and what do you get???
Alex Caffari
Aug 29th 2012, 17:15
Well Victor... It looks like you've attracted some attention with this one. Mission accomplished I suppose.
Keep it up Sir. Drama sells advertising you know :)
Andy Farrugia
Aug 29th 2012, 13:17
And another thing, Mr Calleja: what's so QUIRKY about Trappist monks and their vow of silence? Don't you believe in freedom of choice?
Adrian Borg Cardona
Aug 29th 2012, 12:55
Victor, sometimes the epistles and the Gospel are not very clear. In a couple of instances, they even seem to contradict what Christ says. So I believe a clear explanation from the priest is useful. I suggest you attend mass by our parish priest in Balzan, Dun Kalc. His sermons take the message of the Gospel and apply it to our daily life, giving examples from our lives and using very basic words. A brilliant, caring and understanding man who has attracted many people to listen to him. It's a joy to hear his sermons.
Andy Farrugia
Aug 29th 2012, 09:42
Wow, Mr Calleja! How very democratic of you, I must say! Are you perhaps suggesting the muzzling of priests? Inside the temples of the One they serve? Perhaps you would rather have some electronic device going over the rituals and eliminate priests altogether? Now, that's an idea for you to write about! Come on, come, all this "newly discovered form of snazzy musings" does not become either you or your age!
Mark Manfre'
Aug 29th 2012, 09:27
Dear Mr. Calleja, I shall not attempt to enter into things such matters as IVF "or other diverse stuff" as you so call it, I shall leave that stuff to intellectuals such as yourself. It is great however how today we all feel free to create our own makeshift religions, out with homilies today, what next tomorrow? We think we know it all don't we. Well coming from such an intellectual as yourself, dear Sir, perhaps for the benefit of those of us who have some serious respect for the Catholic Church, one ought to consider spelling Mass with a capital "M", not for what It represents but for what IT IS.
Victor Rodenas
Aug 29th 2012, 08:47
The `funny` thing is that if after the Mass you go to the main door of the Church and ask people coming out, what was the sermon and Gospel about,........very few will tell you.
Paul Konti
Aug 29th 2012, 11:34
Victor, I agree with you that very few church goers will tell you what the sermon and Gospel was about. But let us think positively. At least SOME members of the congregation are benefiting from the sermon. And I would like to be considered one of them.
Victor Rodenas
Aug 29th 2012, 16:05
Prosit Sur Konti,..j`alla kullhadd bhalek.
charles caruana
Aug 28th 2012, 16:12
'and some silly bloggers like me.' Congratulations - for a change, you have hit the nail on the head.
Victor Rodenas
Aug 28th 2012, 14:49
Victor if you feel that you still have got to go to Mass,go.You believe in divorce, IVF, etc, so what! Believe me that many in the congregation believe that evading Income Tax is OK, it`s no sin,...so join the club,..it is called,....Pick and choose religion.
John Neville Ebejer
Aug 28th 2012, 19:09
yes sure, and those who do not go to mass are the perfect beings who pay all their taxes honest etc and so can permit themselves to judge others...
Henry S Pace
Aug 28th 2012, 14:33
’ John 6
For Jesus knew from the outset who did not believe and who was to betray him. He went on, ‘This is why I
told you that no one could come to me except by the gift of the Father.’ After this, many of his disciples went
away and accompanied him no more. Then Jesus said to the Twelve, ‘What about you, do you want to go a
way too?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life, and we
believe; we have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.’
John Neville Ebejer
Aug 28th 2012, 12:55
Would have been better if you had shut up your trap this time. Have you actually re-read what you have written? What a load of rubbish.
Oscar Mifsud
Aug 29th 2012, 12:18
John N. Ebejer, I think you should have specified to whom you are referring. Who is your "you"?
It could be mistakenly assumed that you are referring to the last comment above yours!
Please choose the reason of your report below: