Don't be boring

A reflection by a senior priest to a junior priest, concerning the art of preaching. Rule No. 1...don't be boring!
I couldn't agree more. While it is easy to be flippant and banal, and that might not be boring...it is not saying that either. If the genuine gospel is being preached it will certainly not be boring. Challenging, inspiring, demanding and so on, but not, I think, boring.
One might add, in conclusion. That it is not just preachers who make sermons boring. Listeners who do not listen, who simply long for it all to be over; who fail to think about and engage with what is being said and take it seriously. Yes, listeners, you must take some responsibility too.
It took me years to realise that one of the unfortunate side effects of having been a young chorister was that I had also developed bad listening habits. I was eighteen when I realised that I had to undo 12 years of bad listening habits. Not entirely the fault of the preacher, sometimes so. But we all need to take responsibility.