The answer
The sermon was often linked with pastoral work, so that the listeners might not feel that they were being given orders, but instead offered God’s love through the fatherhood of the priest. “If the gospel reading is complete, and if a bishop is present, he should hold the gospel in his hand and address the congregation from the passages that have been read. If there is no bishop and the priest is capable of preaching, let him speak … and a prayer that is relevant to the passage of the gospel is read.”1551
Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty
Notes
1551 Perhaps St. Basil means that the priest or bishop who delivered the sermon can raise their heart with a short prayer, asking God to enlighten him and the listeners with His knowledge and to grant them an understanding of His truths.