One of the most endearing traits of children is their unstructured and unplanned candour, which, at times, can be hilariously amusing.
For instance, eight-year-old Leo sat through a long and boring sermon, and when he could take it no longer, he turned to his mother and said loud enough for the preacher and the congregation to hear: “Mum, he’s such a bore. If we give him the money now, will he let us go?” So St Paul was well aware of the challenges of being a patient and persistent preacher whether the time is favourable or unfavourable.
In the recent past, 41 priests of the archdiocese of Adelaide were privileged to attend a theologically enriching, spiritually rewarding and pastorally stimulating course on Preaching in the Life and Ministry of the Priest The presenter was Fr Gregory Heille OP, Professor of Homiletics and Academic Dean at the Aquinas Institute of Theology, Saint Louis, Missouri, Uin the US.
Fr Heille’s prime goal was to assist the participants as they endeavour to fulfil their primary duty, namely, the proclamation of the Gospel of God to all. More precisely, his objective was three-fold:
• to nourish the deep purpose of preaching in terms of both spirituality and theology;
• to prepare the participants for preaching in parishes on a Sunday;
• and to provide additional skills in preaching to children and for specific audiences.
Every sovereign pontiff has clearly and emphatically reiterated St Paul’s pastoral admonition to his disciple, Timothy: “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus… I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, and encourage with the utmost patience in teaching.” (2 Tim. 4:1-2)
This is how Paul VI framed it in Evangelii Nuntiandi: “In our day, what has happened to that hidden energy of the Good News, which is able to have a powerful effect on human conscience?”
It is an incontestable fact of experience that western culture has become progressively secularised and ever more compartmentalised. And so, it is a complex challenge speaking of God and the life of the Spirit in a society, which is increasingly unaware of its spiritual malaise and its divorce from transcendental insight and values.
Further, the social concept of the common good or community well-being is clearly relegated to the back seat.
Ironically, people are hungering for meaning; and they are avidly searching for meaning in community. As we read in the Book of Proverbs: “Without a vision the people perish.” (Prov. 29:18) In a word, there is a sense of urgency in the face of crisis. And so, the insistent directive of St Paul is both appropriate and opportune.
In an absorbing and stimulating article, entitled The Spirituality of the Preacher, Fr Edward Ruane OP very rightly says: “Throughout Church history, great preachers are called forth in light of a critical historical moment. One need only recall the periods that generated Chrysostom, Augustine, Bernard, Catherine of Siena, Savanarola, Luther, Martin Luther King, and Oscar Romero. Each of these great preachers was formed by a sense of urgency to speak God’s word at a critical time.” In a word, priests need to be aware of the power of the word and their ability to transform history in and through their ministry of preaching.
As early as 1968, this was the startling observation of Yves Congar: “I could quote a whole series of ancient texts, all saying more or less that if in one country Mass was celebrated for thirty years without preaching and in another there was preaching for thirty years without Mass, people would be more Christian in the country where there was preaching.”
In this the scholarly theologian was merely reflecting what St Paul had once said: “But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent?”…So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” (Rom. 10:14-17) How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!
This explains why Christ Jesus was so resolute and passionate about proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness.
The evangelist, Matthew, very specifically says: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Mt. 9:35-36)
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harveSt”
So, regardless of the complexities and the challenges, this is a moment of opportunity for all priests.
To quote Fr Edward Duane: “This is the moment for gospel preachers. For this opportunity to be seized, it demands a spirituality that can sustain a vibrant preaching geared to this moment in history.” Indeed, preaching is a distinct, necessary and privileged gift.