EVANGELII GAUDIUM - page 118

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to transmit the intrinsic power of the text which
has been proclaimed.
Personalizing the word
149. The preacher “ought first of all to devel-
op a great personal familiarity with the word of
God. Knowledge of its linguistic or exegetical as-
pects, though certainly necessary, is not enough.
He needs to approach the word with a docile and
prayerful heart so that it may deeply penetrate
his thoughts and feelings and bring about a new
outlook in him”.115 It is good for us to renew our
fervour each day and every Sunday as we prepare
the homily, examining ourselves to see if we have
grown in love for the word which we preach.
Nor should we forget that “the greater or lesser
degree of the holiness of the minister has a real
effect on the proclamation of the word”.116 As
Saint Paul says, “we speak, not to please men,
but to please God who tests our hearts” (1 Th
2:4). If we have a lively desire to be the first to
hear the word which we must preach, this will
surely be communicated to God’s faithful peo-
ple, for “out of the abundance of the heart, the
mouth speaks” (Mt 12:34). The Sunday readings
will resonate in all their brilliance in the hearts of
the faithful if they have first done so in the heart
of their pastor.
115 John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation
Pastores Dabo Vobis (25 March 1992), 26: AAS 84 (1992), 698.
116 Ibid., 25: AAS 84 (1992), 696.