Homily (and sermon)

A homily is a short reflection on the scripture readings, typically given by the priest or deacon during a Catholic Mass, an Anglican Eucharist, or an Orthodox Divine Liturgy. The homily is normally five to fifteen minutes and focuses on opening the readings just heard. A sermon, in most Protestant and evangelical traditions, fills the parallel role but is typically longer (twenty to forty minutes), more central to the service, and more extensively developed thematically. The distinction is more of register than of kind; both are exposition of scripture for the gathered congregation.