The Main Tasks of the Homily as Defined by the Liturgical Theology

Abstract

The liturgical theology refers first to cosmic liturgy, accepting, however, as its starting point, the actual liturgical celebration. In this case it is the celebration of the Eucharist. A very important task of the liturgical theology is its function of evangelization. The liturgical theology perceives evangelization as reveling Christ-Liturgician of the cosmos, calling people to live with God and for God, and inviting people again to be liturgicians of the cosmos with Him and in Him. With such an approach, the task of the homily, as an integral part of the celebration, is a sacramental manifestation of Mystery of Christ, which was fulfilled as a spiritual sacrifice of the obedience to God the Father and of love towards the human kind. This sacrifice found its culmination in the bloody sacrifice on the cross, which was made once and for all. The first special task of the homily in the Holy Mass is the call for obedience to God, according to the example of Christ, and hence for making a spiritual sacrifice; in this way the homily makes the participants co-sacrificers, together with Christ. This is the fundamental condition of participatio actuosa in the Eucharist. Another specific task is to point to the need of a personal communion with Christ, which reaches its culmination in the Holy Communion, and is prolonged to the time after the celebration. The third most important task of the homily is to present the celebration – the cult of God, as the paradigm of the whole Christian life, so that it becomes a life for God.