Great homilies

How the Church has preached the Word, from the 2nd century to today

Awaiting theological review

A homily explains the Scripture just read and applies it to life. Here are some that the Church still remembers — summarised in our own words, with the passage each one preaches on.

c. 160–170
On Pascha
Melito of Sardis
Occasion
Easter (the Christian Pascha)
Where
Sardis (near today's Sart, Turkey)
Preaches on
Exodus 12:1–14 · 1 Corinthians 5:7
Early Christian source
Preached after the reading of Exodus 12, it reads the Passover lamb as a figure of Christ: what happened in Egypt in shadow is fulfilled in Christ's death and resurrection.
Early Christian source
It is one of the oldest Christian sermons to survive outside the New Testament. Eusebius mentions Melito as a bishop of the second century (Church History IV.26).
Historical context
The text was lost for centuries and recovered from papyri published in the twentieth century.
Interpretation
Parts of it accuse Israel of killing God in harsh terms. The Church rejects blaming the Jewish people for Christ's death (Second Vatican Council, Nostra Aetate 4).
Themes
- Christ our Passover
- Old Testament figures fulfilled in Christ
- Easter as passage from death to life
Why it matters today
It shows that from the beginning Christians read the whole Bible as pointing to Christ — and that we must read old texts with care.
Early Christianity →The full text is not reproduced here.
Date unknown (ancient)
An ancient homily for Holy Saturday
Unknown author
Occasion
Holy Saturday
Where
Unknown
Preaches on
1 Peter 3:18–19 · Ephesians 5:14
Tradition
The Church reads it every Holy Saturday in the Office of Readings of the Liturgy of the Hours.
Interpretation
It imagines the great silence of Holy Saturday: Christ goes down among the dead, finds Adam and Eve, takes them by the hand and calls them to rise, because he took on their nature in order to save them.
Historical context
The author and date are unknown; it has sometimes been attributed to a bishop of the fourth century, without certainty.
Themes
- Christ's descent to the dead
- Adam and Eve set free
- God's silence that saves
Why it matters today
For anyone who feels buried or far from God: even there, Christ comes looking.
The full text is not reproduced here.
c. 400 (traditional attribution)
The Paschal Homily
John Chrysostom (attributed)
Occasion
Easter night
Where
Constantinople, according to tradition
Preaches on
Matthew 20:1–16 · 1 Corinthians 15:54–57
Tradition
Eastern Christians read it aloud every Easter night. Tradition attributes it to John Chrysostom, bishop of Constantinople from 398 to 404.
Interpretation
Taking up the parable of the workers in the vineyard, it invites everyone to the feast: those who came at the first hour and those who came at the last, those who fasted and those who did not.
Scripture
It ends by mocking death, as Paul does: death has lost its sting, because Christ is risen.
1 Corinthians 15:54–57
Themes
- Everyone is invited to the feast
- Mercy for latecomers
- Victory over death
Why it matters today
No one is too late to come home. Easter is for those who feel they have done everything wrong, too.
John Chrysostom →The full text is not reproduced here.
Early 5th century (exact year uncertain)
Sermon 272: on the Body of Christ
Augustine of Hippo
Occasion
Pentecost, to the newly baptised
Where
Hippo (today Annaba, Algeria)
Preaches on
1 Corinthians 12:27 · 1 Corinthians 10:17
Early Christian source
Augustine explains the Eucharist to people baptised at Easter, who are receiving it for the first weeks.
Scripture
Starting from Paul — you are the body of Christ — he tells them that the mystery on the altar is their own mystery: they are to become what they receive.
1 Corinthians 12:27
Early Christian source
He compares the many grains made into one loaf with the many believers made one in Christ, and says their Amen is a yes to being his body.
Themes
- The Eucharist
- The Church as the Body of Christ
- Unity
Why it matters today
Communion is not only something I receive; it makes me part of a body, with responsibilities to the others.
Augustine of Hippo →The full text is not reproduced here.
Between 440 and 461
First Sermon on the Nativity (Sermon 21)
Leo the Great, Pope
Occasion
Christmas
Where
Rome
Preaches on
Luke 2:1–14 · 2 Peter 1:4
Tradition
Part of it is read every Christmas Day in the Office of Readings.
Early Christian source
Leo tells everyone to rejoice: the saint because the prize is near, the sinner because forgiveness is offered, the pagan because he is called to life.
Early Christian source
Because God became man, Leo calls Christians to recognise their dignity: they share in the divine nature and should not go back to their old ways.
Themes
- The Incarnation
- Joy for everyone
- Christian dignity
Why it matters today
Christmas is not only a sweet story: it says who you are and how great your calling is.
Pope Leo I →The full text is not reproduced here.
c. 590–592
Forty Homilies on the Gospels
Gregory the Great, Pope
Occasion
Sunday and feast-day Gospels
Where
Rome
Preaches on
John 20:11–18
Historical context
Gregory preached them in the early years of his pontificate, while Rome suffered plague, hunger and war. When he was too ill, a notary read his text to the people.
Early Christian source
In plain words he explains the Gospel of the day and applies it to ordinary life, with many stories and examples.
Early Christian source
On Mary Magdalene at the tomb, he dwells on her love: she kept looking for the Lord when the others had gone home.
Historical context
He also identified Mary Magdalene with the sinful woman of Luke 7. This became common in the West, but the reform of the calendar in 1969 no longer joined the two.
Themes
- Preaching for ordinary people
- Love that keeps searching
- The Gospel applied to daily life
Why it matters today
A model of a homily that speaks to the people in front of you, in a time of crisis.
Gregory the Great →Pope Gregory I →Mary Magdalene →The full text is not reproduced here.
c. 1120s
In Praise of the Virgin Mother
Bernard of Clairvaux
Occasion
On the Annunciation (four homilies)
Where
Clairvaux (France)
Preaches on
Luke 1:26–38
Early Christian source
Four homilies on the Gospel of the Annunciation, written by the young abbot of Clairvaux.
Tradition
The fourth is read in the Office of Readings on 20 December.
Interpretation
Bernard pictures heaven and earth waiting for Mary's answer to the angel, and begs her to say yes, because salvation is offered through her consent.
Themes
- Mary's yes
- God waits for human freedom
- Advent
Why it matters today
God does not force: he asks, and waits for an answer — also yours.
Mary →The full text is not reproduced here.
22 October 1978
Mass at the beginning of the Pontificate
John Paul II, Pope
Occasion
Beginning of his pontificate
Where
St Peter's Square, Rome
Preaches on
Matthew 16:16
Scripture
He begins with Peter's confession, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God, and asks who Peter, a fisherman from Galilee, was to come to Rome.
Matthew 16:16
Historical context
He calls everyone, believers and those who doubt, not to be afraid to welcome Christ, and to open to him the doors of states, economic and political systems, culture and civilisation.
Themes
- Do not be afraid
- Christ knows what is in man
- Opening society to Christ
Why it matters today
His call not to be afraid marked a whole pontificate and still speaks to anyone facing fear.
Pope John Paul II →Read the full text on vatican.va ↗
24 April 2005
Mass for the inauguration of the Pontificate
Benedict XVI, Pope
Occasion
Beginning of his pontificate
Where
St Peter's Square, Rome
Preaches on
John 21:15–19
Historical context
He explains the two signs he receives: the pallium, a lamb's wool stole, image of the shepherd who carries the lost sheep; and the fisherman's ring, recalling Peter's call to be a fisher of men.
Scripture
Christ's words to Peter, feed my sheep, are now spoken to him.
John 21:15–17
Historical context
He recalls John Paul II's call not to be afraid, and assures young people that Christ takes nothing away from those who let him in, and gives everything.
Themes
- The shepherd who seeks the lost
- Unity
- Christ takes nothing away
Why it matters today
An answer to the fear that following Christ makes life smaller.
Pope Benedict XVI →Read the full text on vatican.va ↗
27 March 2020
Meditation in an empty St Peter's Square
Francis, Pope
Occasion
Moment of prayer and Urbi et Orbi blessing during the pandemic
Where
St Peter's Square, Rome (empty)
Preaches on
Mark 4:35–41
Historical context
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, alone in the rain in an empty square, the Pope meditated on the storm on the lake.
Scripture
Like the disciples in the boat, we are all frightened and all in the same boat; Jesus asks why we are afraid and have no faith.
Mark 4:38–40
Historical context
He says the storm strips away false certainties and shows that we belong to one another and need the Lord.
Themes
- Faith in the storm
- We need one another
- Trust instead of fear
Why it matters today
Watched live by millions shut in their homes, it remains a word for any time of crisis.
Pope Francis →Read the full text on vatican.va ↗

Great homilies

On Pascha

An ancient homily for Holy Saturday

The Paschal Homily

Sermon 272: on the Body of Christ

First Sermon on the Nativity (Sermon 21)

Forty Homilies on the Gospels

In Praise of the Virgin Mother

Mass at the beginning of the Pontificate

Mass for the inauguration of the Pontificate

Meditation in an empty St Peter's Square