Think about it—when was the last time you sat down and read your Bible? Most Catholics own a Bible (it’s sad to think, but some don’t), but many don’t read it, much less study it. So in October 2009, Pope Benedict held a synod on holy Scripture. One outcome of the synod was a reminder that one of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council was that Catholics should read the Bible.

The synod also reminded priests to focus their homilies on the Sunday Scripture readings. It’s sad when you think of how many homilies aren’t really homilies at all. They’re no more than the priest’s reflection on what he did that week—the news report he heard, the movie he saw, the book he read (probably not the Bible), the latest story or joke he got in an e-mail—and not one reference to Scripture.

So many Catholics encounter the Bible only in the readings at Mass. We do get a very good cross-section of the Bible during the three-year Lectionary cycle—but even if you go to daily Mass, you don’t hear the entire Bible. And so often we don’t even pay attention to the readings. Do you remember last Sunday’s Gospel passage? How about the first and second readings? Now, for the big one: What was the homily about?

When you realize the Bible contains the revealed Word of God—that it outlines God’s plan of salvation for us and is our chief guide to the Christian way of life—it becomes painfully obvious that each of us needs to read and understand what this book has to say to us.

Some parishes have started Bible-study programs, but far more have not. It’s sad that almost fifty years after Vatican II, and despite the reminder from the 2009 synod, some bishops and priests still discourage Catholics from reading the Word of God.

So how much do you know about the Bible? Do you know Genesis has two different creation stories? (I wonder which one fundamentalists believe is true.) How many animals of each species did Noah take aboard the Ark? (See Gen 6:19–20 and then Gen 7:2–3.) Or how about this—what does the balm in Gilead do? It’s mentioned once in Genesis 37:25 and then in Jeremiah 8:22, 46:11, and 51:8. In sharp contrast to the story in the old spiritual, no one who seeks it is healed. All are found to be unworthy.

If the Mass is our chief encounter with the Word, shouldn’t we try to make the most of it? Shouldn’t we do our best to have trained lectors, clear sound systems, and attentive congregations? These are all things you can impact.

However, I’ve often puzzled over how the average person in the pew can effect change on the most important element of the Liturgy of the Word: the homily. Most parishioners feel it’s the luck of the draw, and centuries of bad homilies have trained them at best not to expect much and at worst not to listen. When I was a deacon, one parishioner read his morning paper during the readings and homily. How many are busy reading the bulletin or filling out their check?

I want to start a movement. I’ve often said that “nice homily, Father” is Catholic for “goodbye, Father.” I’ve heard that from parishioners even on days when I didn’t preach.

Let’s stop it. Make your priests nervous—study the Bible. Read the readings ahead of time, and go to Mass with questions. If you’re still hungry, ask to be fed. If it wasn’t a nice homily, say so. If left to priests, Catholic preaching isn’t going to change.

It’s up to you to demand better. Tell your priests that one of their major responsibilities is to prepare a quality homily based on the Word of God.

To quote Jesus Christ, “Feed my lambs” (Jn 21:15).

Father Rick Potts is coordinating editor of Liguorian and promoter of Word and Mission for Liguori Publications.