Listen on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-heart-of-homily-preparation-better-preach-x-seek/id1598918591?i=1000699233658

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/78MniDo4ZFZhtJ1j1jtG4c?si=D4FE07j7R-CyUzV7OdRAfw

Join us on the SEEK podcast as Father John Burns opens our hearts to the transformative power of Catholic homilies. Unlike any other form of public speaking, an authentic homily weaves together Scripture, liturgy, and our daily lives, offering a unique conduit for divine grace.

Father Burns delves deep into the essence of impactful preaching, emphasizing that the core of powerful homilies is not in the technique but in prayer. He shares his personal approach to homily preparation, which begins with a prayerful request to understand the hearts of his listeners. This spiritual preparation allows him to transcend his own ideas and deliver messages that resonate deeply with parishioners, often addressing their needs in ways he had not anticipated.

Highlighting the biblical metaphor of sowing seeds, Father Burns reminds us that as preachers, we participate in God’s work by planting the living Word in the hearts of the faithful. It’s a humble reminder that while we may lay the foundations, it is God alone who brings forth the growth.

Father Burns also touches on the need for a holistic approach to Church renewal, suggesting that powerful preaching must go hand in hand with the nurturing roles of both spiritual fathers and mothers within the Church. This unity of masculine and feminine expressions of faith embodies the fullness of God’s design for our spiritual family.

Chapters
0:00 Introduction
1:30 What is a Homily?
3:41 What Parts of the Mass Pierced Your Heart?
5:30 Catholics Would Get More Out of Homilies If...
8:41 Something Surprising About Your Preparation?
14:09 What Feedback Would Help a Priest?
18:05 Constructive Cricitism That Has Helped You?
22:53 Favorite Season or Feast Day to Preach On?
25:15 Relationship with Mary
27:55 What's at Stake with Preaching?
31:15 Preaching and the Church Moving Forward?
34:31 Importance of Women Religious
40:40 Fr. John's SEEK Talk