One of the most familiar moments of the Mass is the homily. After the readings, everyone instinctively leans forward and waits to hear something that will encourage them, teach them, or challenge them. This instinct is ancient. We can see its roots in the Scriptures themselves. In the synagogue at Nazareth (Luke 4), Jesus stands to read from the prophet Isaiah, and then He sits down—taking the posture of a teacher. St. Luke says, “The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.” They expected Him to preach. And He did: “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” From the very beginning, God’s Word was meant to be proclaimed and then broken open so God’s people could understand and respond.   The early Christians continued this pattern. Around the year 155, St. Justin Martyr described Christian worship this way: after the readings from “the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets,” the “president of the assembly” (that is, the bishop or priest) would “offer a verbal instruction and exhortation” to the people. In other words, there was preaching—an explanation of the Scriptures and an exhortation to live what had been heard.   The Church today continues this ancient practice. The Second Vatican Council teaches that the homily is not an optional speech but “part of the liturgy.” On Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, the homily is required. Its purpose is simple and beautiful: to break open the Word of God so the people can receive it, understand it, and allow it to shape their lives.   Many Catholics understandably treat the homily as though it were the most important part of the Mass, or at least just as important as the Eucharist itself. Modern culture plays a part in this, since in many Christian communities the sermon is the center of worship. And even as a priest, I place great effort into preaching well because it matters. But the homily is not the center of the Mass. The sacrifice is.   The Church teaches clearly that the Eucharistic Prayer—when Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary is made present—is the “center and summit” of the entire celebration. The homily prepares us for that moment; it does not replace it. This was the understanding of the early Fathers of the Church as well. St. Augustine, one of the greatest preachers in Christian history, tells his people again and again why he preaches: so that they will be properly disposed to approach the altar. His goal was not simply to inform or inspire but to purify, encourage, and awaken the hearts of his listeners so they could participate fruitfully in the sacrifice of Christ. The homily opened their hearts; the Eucharist transformed them.   Of course, we’ll talk more about the Eucharistic sacrifice in future sessions of our Massterclass.