Seminarian Column: Jesus, teach me to preach

This past August I began my third year of theology at Mount St. Mary Seminary. Of course, there were a few necessary changes due to the pandemic. We were asked to observe three Ws: wear a mask, wash your hands often, and watch your distance. The rector also asked each of us to pray a daily Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary, asking for protection of the seminary community from COVID-19. Through her intercession, no seminarian at the Mount got the coronavirus during our first semester. Thanks be to God!  So, with a few inconveniences, seminary formation continued.

Third theology year is a pivotal year in seminary formation. After this year, God-willing, I will be ordained to the transitional diaconate. As a deacon, I will be able to preach the homily at Mass. As such, one of my classes this past semester was Homiletics, where my class practiced preaching in front of each other. Each member of my class was able to craft and deliver a mock “homily” in front of the class. With a seminary priest-instructor guiding us, we were assigned various days to preach. We were assigned specific weekday or Sunday Mass readings from various seasons: Ordinary Time, Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, etc. For example, one of my homilies was for the “Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C.”

As I began to prepare each homily, the first step was to review the readings, but I had to go beyond simply reading the Mass readings. I had to pray with them. I had to ask the Lord in prayer, “What do you want me to tell your people?” The homily should not be about what I want to say, but rather what Jesus wants to say through me. After praying with the readings, it was time to craft the homily. I also did some research, studying the scripture passages with the help of scripture scholars and Bible commentaries. I think that a good homily should include an explanation of the Scripture and an application for our lives.

After writing the homily, my attention turned toward delivering it. I would practice it several times before presenting it to the class. We met in our small seminary chapel to give us the feel of an actual liturgical setting. We even recited the conclusion of the Gospel reading: “The Gospel of the Lord… Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.” At first, I was rather nervous, but as the semester continued, we all became more and more comfortable at the ambo. After delivering the homily, the instructor and my classmates would give positive and constructive feedback, both on content and mechanics: “That was a great homily. I really liked your point about… I think your homily could have been better if you said… You had good volume and your pacing was excellent, but I noticed you tapping your hands… Were you nervous?”

As I move into my last semester before diaconate, we will have another homiletics class. We will have even more opportunities to practice preaching before we give our first “real homily.” While some of the work is done by writing the homily at my desk, most of the work is done on my knees in prayer. Jesus, teach me to preach. So far, he has. He has given me the words that he wants me to say.

Preaching is such an essential ministry of a deacon and a priest. It helps people come to know and love Jesus Christ—to call upon him. St. Paul reminds us, “But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach unless they are sent?” (Rom. 10:14-15). The Church needs good, holy men to be sent by the Lord to preach. The Church needs priests and deacons. As I prepare to make this last step before the priesthood, I hear the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” My response continues to be that of Isaiah the prophet: “Here I am! Send me” (Isa. 6:8).