Bottom line: My recommendation to fellow homilists: order the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture and use it.

This weekend I have Deacon Pierce Murphy as homilist. Below are links to previous 19th Sunday Year C homilies.

I'd like to take advantage of this moment to make a recommendation regarding a commentary I recently discovered. A commentary doesn't replace lectio divina. Still, a verse by verse commentary is essential for preparing a homily.

A good commentary can save a homilist from embarrassing situations. A friend of mine was preaching on the woman with hemorrhages that Jesus cured. He remarked on how God is concerned with our most intimate conditions. So far so good. As he continued, however, it became clear he didn't understand the exact nature of the malady. (He made a joking reference to Preparation-H.) This happened at a morning Mass with a small congregation that took it in stride.

Like my unfortunate friend I've made many blunders because I simply assumed I knew what the text meant. An everyday dictionary and a good commentary can keep such embarrassment to a minimum.

Much more important than a homilist's pride is what Jeremiah says, "When I found your words I devoured them". Before we preach we want to interiorize the Scripture readings. For example, in today's Gospel, what does "gird your loins" refer to? And what does Jesus mean when he says "at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come..."?

A basic commentary will answer those questions. Here's the new that one I like a lot: Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. So far I've used two volumes: Luke and Matthew. Beyond their solid scholarship they have these advantages:

So that is my recommendation to fellow homilists: order the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture and use it.

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