My dear friend, Fr Andrew, was giving a lecture one time and noted that in the classical era, the teacher would sit and the people would stand to hear his words. How much things have changed. If a student stands in class now, you can bet his afternoon dance card will be full. When I give a sermon, I stand at the front of the congregation and watch everyone else take a rest. My parish is good, but in other places I see people go right for the bulletin, the bottom of the purse for the much-needed linty hard candy, or just plain doze off. The sermon is there for illumination and to make clear the words of the Gospel lesson to today's challenges.
