During the Holy Mass this morning, the sermon time, to be particular, I had an insight - or rather an analogy. It was again about the length and purpose of a sermon or homily. A sermon ought to be like medicine shot. Medicine is never administered in large dosages. They are given in less quantity and are supposed to effect a change for the better. If one understands practice of medicine as promotion of good health and not merely prevention of sickness, then certainly medicine is of great value.
One might suggest that instead of medicine a sermon ought to be like water, after all the Word of God is living waters! Well, I do not disagree with the latter part of that. But water is something we take of our own, without which life itself is impossible. It is not something administered to us. So if we compare a sermon to drinking water for health, then we ought to take it ourselves - we need not have a professional (qualified, prepared, 'formed') doctor - minister? - tell us that. We need the 'minister' to help us with guidelines, not lectures!
(I think I'm obsessed with this ideas of short meaningful sermons!)
One might suggest that instead of medicine a sermon ought to be like water, after all the Word of God is living waters! Well, I do not disagree with the latter part of that. But water is something we take of our own, without which life itself is impossible. It is not something administered to us. So if we compare a sermon to drinking water for health, then we ought to take it ourselves - we need not have a professional (qualified, prepared, 'formed') doctor - minister? - tell us that. We need the 'minister' to help us with guidelines, not lectures!
(I think I'm obsessed with this ideas of short meaningful sermons!)
If the Word of God is the living water, then sermons are additives- ranging from sugared flavours to soap. The soap making the water frothy but undrinkable.
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