Preachers have one minute to captivate the congregation

“I have discovered over the years that if you save your big point for the end, people have often tuned you out,” Deacon Fritz Bauerschmidt says, “You really have to give them something in that first minute.”

Fritz is a permanent deacon in the Archdiocese of Baltimore assigned to the Cathedral of Mary, Our Queen. He is also a professor of theology at Loyola Maryland University, the Jesuit university in Baltimore, an author, a husband and a father of three. 

After the homily, Fritz explains to host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., why the rapper Post Malone provided the perfect hook for his homily.

Read the full text of this week’s homily, and Scripture readings.

Do you have a preacher to recommend for Preach? Let us know here.

Get daily Scripture reflections and support "Preach" by becoming a digital subscriber to America Magazine.

“Preach” is made possible through the generous support of the Compelling Preaching Initiative, a project of Lilly Endowment Inc.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices