There’s that at least

More day-by-day tripblogging on the way, but first, a reflection prompted by our experience at Mass tonight (Saturday Vigil).

If nothing else has been gained from this trip, we have this at least: We’ve heard two excellent homilies at Mass.

The first at the Oxford Oratory last Sunday, and the second today, at St. Mary Star of the Sea here in Edinburgh.

Both were rooted in the Scriptures, especially the Gospels, both drew on other sources (the first, Aquinas and B16, the second, Victor Frankl) and both related the matter at hand to everyday, ordinary life. The first – since it was Corpus Christi – to the need we all have for what Christ amazingly offers us in the Eucharist, and the second, on the challenge of following Christ, especially after the initial enthusiasm wears off.

But do you know what else these homilies had in common, aside from being just good, substantive, practical and oh yes, under fifteen minutes long?

They were both written.

Oh, there were moments in which the homilist did a bit of improv and added a thought or two, but for the most part, both seem to have kept to what they had written.

I’ll be honest. I’ve never heard an off-the-cuff homily that was worth a dime. I know that homilists can be all Oh, the Holy Spirit will guide me and it will be awesome…but real talk here. Most of the time, guys…it’s not. The risk of meandering self-indulgence is super high if the homily isn’t written down and presented pretty much exactly as planned.

Anyway. Thank you to homilists who work hard, prepare, sacrifice your time and humbly – and probably quite often in fear and trembling – share that very Good News.