During the current season of my life, we don’t go to our parish most Sundays. That is because my parents no longer drive and my wife and I drive them to Mass at their parish. Because my Mom is bothered by incense and has trouble moving far, we sit in the back row. I have a new appreciation of good preaching because every possible distraction is between the priest / deacon preaching and myself, from the back pew.

This past weekend, the priest (who happens to be a good friend) preached a very good homily. While he isn't the most natural or gifted public speaker, he is very effective from the pulpit as a preacher. As I was reflecting on what made him a good homilist, I came to the conclusion that it contained 5 elements that make up good preaching (or teaching). They are: being fully Catholic, preaching with Courage, proclaiming with Conviction, having Charity, and giving a Challenge. I’d like to briefly dive into each of these elements.

The 5 “C”s of Effective Catholic Preaching and Teaching

1 - Catholic

There is nothing more important than proclaiming what is true. This means doing so every single time, fully within the boundaries of what the Catholic Church teaches. The deposit of faith is something that was given to us by our Lord. It is not something optional. 

At the heart of the deposit of faith, the most important element, is the Gospel. This basic message of what Jesus has done in order to save his people is what we cannot, ever, take for granted. We can’t assume people know it. We can’t assume they believe it. We can’t assume it need not be proclaimed. In fact, it needs to permeate all of our preaching and teaching. Kerygmatic preaching and kerygmatic catechesis is what this age of Catholics needs to hear most. 

To be fully Catholic means to be fully immersed in the Gospel. It also means we don’t shy away from tough moral or doctrinal teachings. Of course preaching or teaching about abortion, transgenderism, euthanasia, etc. won’t necessarily make you more popular, but that isn’t the point and we need to remember it. Our job is to forget ourselves and proclaim what is true.

Earlier this year I reconnected with a religious sister who was a student of mine in a catechetical class I taught while I worked in campus ministry. She told me that it was through my teaching on the theology of the body and in particular on contraception that she had her initial conversion. I want more of this. More conversions that lead to people later on finding their vocations and eternal happiness. This means we preach / teach ALL of what the Catholic Church has given us to proclaim.

2 - Courage

Speaking of religious sisters, I was once yelled at by several of them in a conference center. This was 20 years ago or so and things were different in the Church. I was invited to speak to a large group of religious vocation directors about why our campus ministry had so many students entering seminary and religious life. I boldly told them that the programs they were depending on would have little effect without having evangelization and discipleship at their foundation. They didn’t believe that I was telling the truth and yelled at me. Seriously. 

It was jarring, to say the least. But, I was courageous and responded as best I could at the time. Afterward, a handful of folks came and asked deeper questions, but most avoided me the rest of my time at the conference.

Being courageous is very difficult, even for those that put on the facade of confidence. Going against the grain. Doing what is right in the face of opposition. Speaking truth to those that will oppose you. Preaching what you know others need to hear, but don’t want to hear. This takes courage. If you feel you are unable to be courageous, that is fine. As with any virtue - God can build in you what you are not able to do yourself. Ask Him to make you more courageous. 

But, be warned - that is a dangerous prayer! One that God WILL answer and then wait upon your “yes” in response. All he wants is consent. He will provide the rest.

3 - Conviction

Conviction, in this context, is a firm belief in something other than your own abilities. Something more important than you. Ultimately, it is faith and hope in God that gives us conviction. It transcends our own understanding and keeps our eyes fixed on the eternal. Thus, we believe the teachings of the Church because of the one who is worthy of being trusted. Then we can be convicted that the content of the doctrines and teachings are not only true, but worthy of our conviction.

Those who preach from conviction are confident and sure. Mary’s fiat was made out of conviction. St. Peter’s preaching at Pentecost was only because the Holy Spirit had convicted him moments earlier. Conviction in our preaching and teaching doesn’t come from a prayer that says, “God make me strong”, rather, it comes from a prayer that believes that “God is my strength!”

Paul was convicted about proclaiming Jesus as Messiah and they beat him, jailed him, and ultimately killed him. To preach with conviction doesn’t mean we look for conflict, but it also means we don’t avoid it. We keep our eyes on what Jesus wants from us and what he asks of us, we do.

4 - Challenge

Building on our conviction and our courage - we now know that we must sometimes issue a challenge. It may be a simple challenge. We may tell our listeners that God wants them to pray more. To believe more. To serve more. Yet it also may be something even more difficult. 

I have known many addicts. Those addicted to drugs, alcohol, sex, etc. All of them were searching for love and peace. One thing I have learned is that you are unable to issue a challenge for freedom if you aren’t willing to enter into trust and ultimately some kind of relationship with them first. Otherwise it is an imposition from the outside - something that is forced and will be resisted. 

Thus, to be able to issue a challenge to another, two things need to exist first - trust and relationship. Trust can be built in preaching and teaching by witnessing first. Being vulnerable about your own life. You need not be an addict to talk about your struggles with sin. But you can’t just teach about how to be free from sin and expect people to listen, if you aren’t willing to witness to them first.

Thus, to challenge others, first allow yourself to be challenged. Then be honest with how you are doing. You need not be perfect in virtue before you challenge others to take up the fight for virtue. 

5 - Charity

Ultimately, all of our preaching and teaching must come from the right place and that is one of love. Charity for God and others needs to permeate everything we talk about. Are we saying this out of love of God and neighbor? If not, then don’t say it. 

There is a priest I know who tends to get “fussy” with his people while preaching. The fussiness makes people uncomfortable and is ineffective. I know this, because I have asked others how they receive it. While I am sure that he has good intentions, we have to be careful of not merely loving others when we want to or in the way we want to love them. We have to love them with the kind of love that God has for us. A sacrificial love. A kind of love that lays down our own desires for the good of others. A love that isn’t fussy with others.

Any good shepherd tends the sheep with care and love. Yet, charity isn’t always “nice”. Sometimes it is difficult to love. To lead others to conversion, holiness, service of others, humility, faith, hope, and charity - this is hard work. When we have a heart burning with love of God and neighbor, we can’t help but let that come out in our preaching and teaching. But, always keep in mind that your job isn’t to people please, get acclaim, or have others thank you for your teaching. Sometimes the good leader, out of love for God and others, will preach and teach in a way that is lovingly difficult, without alienating or fussing. This is not easy, but worth aiming for.