I suppose I occasionally welcome a terrible homily. It provides a focus for my annoyance at Church, its reluctance to progress or its determination to pursue issues of so much lesser significance. But the homily this Sunday exceeded what I might, in even my most perverse mood, have anticipated. At the end, he apologized for its length though content was the more offensive aspect. Aside from his own prejudices it seemed nothing could be favorably viewed. While nothing in the readings suggested it might be the appropriate topic, he talked about priesthood using himself as the model. He went on to speak ill of families, who were self-centered; people who might pursue marital therapy, because it was not the right choice; other priests, since too many were involved in aspects of the ministry he considered less significant and so were neglecting what he considered important; lay ministers and deacons who were deemed fadist; people taking up other careers, since selfishness and money must be their motivation.
He also took up, though perhaps not intending to, the ignorance of his own family noting his father's inclination to hit them should they alter the cadence of a prayer they would say. I am sure it was as sad a recitation as it was aggravating, but I was not interested in being sad. To tell him what a blockhead he was would have meant nothing. Fortunately, I will not be hearing him again. That is to be the Merciers' distress more than mine, though it is an embarrassment to the Church in general when fools think themselves the soul of our faith.
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