Door of Hope

I watched him attentively. He was all in front of me on this small screen. He rose, in his homily, encouraging people to pray. He adapted the occasion we were in for this purpose. This is the art of preaching. It is the preacher’s duty to convey that the Word concerns us, here and now. This time, or rather every time needs a lot of prayer. He mentioned the crisis that is suffocating us. He did not open a window of hope for the people. He said: “There is no solution for us in our country”. Normally, I do not argue with preachers. I listen to them, and I learn. If one of my priest friends asks for my opinion on a homily he is preparing, if I find it appropriate, I give an opinion. His words did not sit well with me. The pulpit of churches is not a place for improvisation or for the expression of our own opinions on politics or anything else. If we encourage people to pray, we have no right to snatch away from them what comforts them. I would not be limiting myself to this homily if I said: there is no sense to a preacher who closes the door of hope in people’s face. May God help the brethren who are addressed by priests whose extensive knowledge about God did not allow them to know Him personally!