I winced when I read in George Brunner's Sept. 11 letter to the editor, "Good homilies should inspire us to act": "Most preachers, even if they preach a joke or preach the hard stuff, miss the most important piece – the piece that gives the people in the pews something to do, something that actually pertains to their lives right then and there."
I cannot comment on "most preachers," but I do know my pastor's homilies inspire me to strive for Gospel values in daily life. I am grateful for our pastor's weekly gift of time and effort. Mr. Brunner quoted Pope Francis from "Evangelii Gaudium": "The homily can actually be an intense and happy experience of the Spirit, a consoling encounter of God's word, a constant source of renewal and growth." He closed his letter by asking, "When is the last time you thought that about a homily you heard?"
My answer, thoughtfully and gratefully, is "last Sunday and many before."
— Pat Henderson is a member of Holy Cross Parish in Kernersville.