At the beginning, explain the setting in which you will be preaching (what kind of parish or group) and what sort of people will be listening.
One way of writing a homily is to prepare a focus statement and function statement that will guide your preaching. The focus is the main point that you want your listeners to understand and remember, and the function is the practical application that you hope they will make. If you wish, you can state those explicitly before you begin writing your homily.Good homilies are focused and uncomplicated. Preparing a focus statement enables you to keep it that way. But it should also inspire. A good model to keep in mind is that of St. Augustine, who cited Cicero to say that a good homily should “teach, delight, and move” its listeners.
