in old churches, you can see a cone shape structures extruding from wall where in a single person can occupy the said podium, that is a lectern.

1. religious lecture – a sermon or other piece of writing on a moral or religious topic, 2. moralizing speech – a speech or other piece of writing with a moralizing theme, 3. talk based on biblical passage – christianity in the Roman Catholic Church, an address based on the scriptures of the day, 4. short saying – a short inspirational saying.

Basically a sermon or speech concerning spirituality and morals.

Lectern: reading stand for speaker – a stand with a sloping top on which a book or notes can rest in front of a standing speaker.

Basically a podium.

Next time, use a dictionary! That’s all I did, but I wanted to know what it meant myself!!

Main Entry: hom·i·ly

Pronunciation: ‘hä-m&-lE

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural -lies

Etymology: Middle English omelie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin homilia, from Late Greek, from Greek, conversation, discourse, from homilein to consort with, address, from homilos crowd, assembly; akin to Greek homos same — more at SAME

1 : a usually short sermon

2 : a lecture or discourse on or of a moral theme

3 : an inspirational catchphrase; also : PLATITUDE

Main Entry: lec·tern

Pronunciation: ‘lek-t&rn

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English lettorne, from Anglo-French leitrun, from Medieval Latin lectrinum, from Late Latin lectrum, from Latin legere to read — more at LEGEND

: a stand used to support a book or script in a convenient position for a standing reader or speaker; especially : one from which scripture lessons are read in a church service

So, a homily is a sermon, and a lectern is a pulpit, if that helps.