For Flock’s Sake, Shorten Sermons!

Pope Francis, on the subject of preaching, said, “How many times have we seen people sleeping during a homily, or chatting among themselves, or outside smoking a cigarette?”

When people laughed at the image, Francis said, “It’s true, you all know it … it’s true!”

Concluding that line of reflection, Francis said, “Please be brief … no more than 10 minutes, please!”

Pope Francis said this to the fifth General Audience of 2018, attended by 8,000.

Baptist deacons responded in shock about parishioners smoking during the sermon, declaring that “the Christian thing to do is to humbly slip out, have brunch at the local diner then sneak back in before the benediction.”