Welcome to PCS 601 - Creating Homilies for Liturgical Seasons
Five Simple Steps to Writing and Preaching an Interactive Homily
Rev. Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
Preaching in an inclusive Catholic community is not a performance—it is a shared sacred encounter. The homily is not simply a message delivered; it is a living conversation in which the Spirit speaks through Scripture, the homilist, and the gathered community. These five steps can help us prepare homilies that are prayerful, grounded, relevant, and deeply engaging.
1. Enter the Word: Read, Meditate, and Listen Deeply
Begin not with analysis, but with prayer.
Read the Gospel and other readings slowly—again and again. Let the words sink into your heart. Practice a form of lectio divina:
- Read the text
- Reflect on what draws your attention
- Respond in prayer
- Rest in God’s presence
Ask yourself:
- What word or phrase shimmers for me?
- Where do I feel resistance, discomfort, or surprise?
- What might the Spirit be whispering beneath the surface?
Most importantly, ask:
“What is God’s invitation in this text—for me, and for our community?”
This is not about finding a clever idea. It is about listening for a living Word.
2. Engage Wisdom: Consult Scholarship and Theology
Ground your reflection in the rich tradition of biblical scholarship and contemporary theology. Engage voices that open the text rather than close it down.
Consider:
- Historical-critical insights: What was happening in this context?
- Feminist and liberation perspectives: Whose voices are missing? Who is being lifted up?
- Contemporary theologians such as Elizabeth Johnson, John Dominic Crossan, Richard Rohr, Ilia Delio, and Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza
Ask:
- How does this text challenge structures of exclusion?
- What does it reveal about the inclusive love of God?
- How might it speak to justice, healing, and transformation today?
Scholarship deepens your preaching—but remember:
You are not giving a lecture. You are breaking open the Word for life.
3. Discern the One Living Message
A powerful homily is not about many ideas—it is about one clear, Spirit-filled message.
Ask yourself:
- What is the one thing this community needs to hear today?
- What is happening in our world, our church, our lives that this Gospel speaks into?
- What is the “good news” here?
This becomes your take-away message—the thread that holds everything together.
Examples:
- “God meets us at the well of our deepest thirst.”
- “No one is outside the circle of God’s love.”
- “We are called not just to receive compassion—but to become it.”
If people remember one sentence after the liturgy, what do you hope it will be?
4. Craft the Homily: Story, Connection, and Invitation
Now shape your homily with care and creativity.
Open with a story, image, or lived experience.
This could be:
- A personal story
- A current event
- A moment from community life
- A symbolic image
Stories open hearts. They help people feel the Gospel before analyzing it.
Connect the story to the Scripture.
Let the text illuminate the story—and the story illuminate the text.
Return clearly to your take-away message.
Repeat it in different ways so it becomes embodied.
Keep it focused and accessible.
A good homily is not long—it is alive.
End with an invitation.
Not a conclusion, but an opening.
5. Preach from the Heart: Practice, Presence, and Participation
Practice your homily—not to memorize it, but to internalize it.
- Speak it aloud
- Notice where it flows—and where it doesn’t
- Allow it to become part of you
Then, when you preach:
- Do not read it. Share it.
- Make eye contact
- Trust your voice
- Trust the Spirit
Be open to last-minute inspiration. Often, the most powerful moments are unscripted.
And in an interactive homily, remember:
The community is not your audience—they are your partners in a sacred conversation.
End with a question that invites dialogue:
- “Where do you see this Gospel alive in your life?”
- “What is God calling us to become as a community?”
- “Who is still waiting at the margins—and how can we respond?”
Let the homily continue in shared reflection.
Learning from Inspiring Preachers
Here are two powerful voices whose preaching model depth, storytelling, and spiritual insight:
Barbara Brown Taylor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nddurWJjcGU
- Known for rich storytelling and poetic theology
- Invites listeners into mystery rather than certainty
- Models how everyday life reveals the sacred
Diana Butler Bass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cNTthYIW0I
- Connects faith with contemporary culture and justice
- Speaks with clarity, warmth, and prophetic courage
- Excellent example of accessible, thoughtful preaching
Closing Wisdom
Preaching is not about having all the answers.
It is about opening a space where the Spirit can move.
In inclusive communities like ours, the homily becomes:
- A shared reflection
- A sacred conversation
- A call to live the Gospel now
Preach with courage.
Listen with an open heart.
Trust the Spirit in the circle.