Holy Trinity + Holy Cross - Sermons

Today on the second Sunday of Lent, we commemorate the life of Saint Gregory Palamas. Father Micah shares with our youth and us a sermon on how our bodies participate in our life in Christ. Our bodies participate by bringing offerings for services, kissing icons, praying, and receiving Holy Communion.

Today is the first Sunday in Great Lent, also known as the Sunday of Orthodoxy. We commemorate the restoration of the holy icons and adorn them in the Church. Father Chris Rowe, a guest priest and the assistant development director for the OCMC and gives today's homily. The Gospel read comes from John 1:43-51. Therein we hear Philip tell Nathanael to "Come and see" the one who Moses and the prophe...

Today is Forgiveness Sunday in the Orthodox Church. The Gospel lesson from Matthew 25: 31-46 makes it clear if we forgive others, God forgives us. Conversely, if we do not forgive, He does not forgive us. In most of our lives, this is easier said than done. Father Evan Armatas, who led our Lenten retreat this weekend, shares that we do not know how to love as we should. If we learn to live as God...

Today is known as Judgement Sunday or Meatfare Sunday. The Gospel lesson comes to us from Matthew 25:31-46. Fr. Dcn. Tikhon shares an inspiring but daunting message as we prepare to enter Lent. He chooses four words from the Gospel and expounds on them. The four words are stranger, least, one, and when. This familiar Gospel tells us we can be transformed by love. When we care for the least, we car...

Today on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, the Gospel is read from Luke 15:11-32. Therein we hear the well-known, beloved parable of, The Prodigal Son. Father Micah shares insight into the Gospel and its profound effect on the history of the Orthodox Church. A father had two sons. The younger son disregards his father by asking for his inheritance, which he receives and leaves. He joins himself with...

Today in the Orthodox Church is the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee. We are entering into the pre-Lenten period known as the Triodion. Father Gregory shares that this period allows a gradual adjustment into Lent because we struggle to change quickly. Today's message from the Gospel of Luke 15:11-32 is about humility, which is the foundation of all spirituality. The Pharisee's mistake as he pra...

Today in the Orthodox Church is the Sunday of the Canaanite. The Gospel reading from Matthew 15: 21-28 is a story of love and persistence. A Canaanite woman cries out repeatedly for Jesus' mercy on her demon-possessed daughter. Love for her daughter, persistent pleading, and her faith touch our Lord, who heals the child. Father Micah shares with us an inspirational message related to the power of...

Today in the Orthodox Church is the 15th Sunday of St. Luke. The Gospel lesson from Luke 19:1-10 narrates the well-known story of Zacchaios' conversion and salvation. Father Paul shares in his message this Gospel speaks to us about a universal longing for all people, peace, and happiness. Zacchaios' thirst and hunger for righteousness inspired him to seek Christ by running ahead of the crowd and c...

Today is the Sunday after Theophany. Jesus' Baptism reestablishes order by removing the chaos in the world and reorienting life. Fr. Micah shares a message with the youth regarding the importance of Holy Water in our lives. Holy Water Blessed at the feast of Theophany may be used by Orthodox Christians to overcome daily chaos giving us proper direction.

Today in the Orthodox Church, we celebrate the Circumcision of Our Lord and Saint Basil the Great. The Gospel reading comes to us from Luke. It begins with the shepherds praising God, the circumcision, and the naming of Jesus. Next, it skips to a twelve-year-old, seen as an adult Jesus speaking, asking questions, and astonishing those in the temple. Luke tells us that Jesus then increased in wisdo...

Today we celebrate The Nativity of Our Lord. Father Gregory shares a message of hope that God is with us in our joy and sadness. The holiday season can be difficult for some as they remember loved ones who have passed. The Gospel of Matthew communicates the fulfillment of prophecies concerning Jesus. One of these prophecies from Isaiah says that a virgin will bear a son whose name will be Emmanuel...

Today is the Sunday before The Holy Nativity. The Gospel lesson from Matthew 2:1-12 accounts for us the genealogy of Christ. Father Gregory shares two points to consider from all the generations read. God uses sacred institutions to bring about His purposes and saints and sinners to bring about His Kingdom.

Today, on the 11th Sunday of Luke, the Gospel lesson comes to us from Luke 14:16-24. Therein we hear the well-known parable of "The Great Banquet." Father Paul shares that the message of the parable is a simple one. It speaks to us about those who will be spiritually happy and satisfied in this life and the next. Those who accept and respond to Jesus' invitation to commune with Him will be Blessed...

Today is the 10th Sunday of Luke. Fr. Micah shares a sermon touching on both the Epistle and Gospel for the day. The Epistle from Galatians says that God sent forth His Son to redeem us and set us free. In the Gospel lesson, Jesus frees a woman bound for eighteen years, unable to stand straight. Jesus came to set us free from the elemental spirits of this world. Those who wish to live a life of fr...

Today, on the 13th Sunday of Luke, the Gospel lesson comes to us from Luke 18:18-27. Therein we hear about a young man who asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Upon hearing he must sell his possessions and follow Christ, he cannot and has the excuse of being rich. Father Gregory continues to speak on stewardship and challenges us not to make excuses for not giving. He uses the woman...

Today, on the 9th Sunday of Luke, the Gospel lesson is taken from Luke 12:16-21. In this pericope, Jesus tells the parable of the "Rich Fool." Father Gregory shares insight into this teaching as we gather on Stewardship Sunday. Jesus spoke more about finances than love, prayer, and faith. In the parable, the rich man is a fool because he keeps his possessions for himself. Our possessions and their...

Today, on the 8th Sunday of Luke, the Gospel lesson is taken from Luke10:25-37. It narrates for us the well-known parable of the Good Samaritan. Father Micah shares a sermon with our youth about mercy and how we can learn to show it in our lives.

Today, on the 7th Sunday of Luke, the Gospel reading is taken from Luke 8:41-56. In this pericope, a woman who suffered from a flow of blood for twelve years found healing by touching the hem of Jesus' garment. Father Gregory shares with us how this woman, Veronica, is a model for us of faith in action. She trusted in Our Lord and approached Him despite the implications of her uncleanness in antiq...

Today, on the 5th Sunday of Luke, the Gospel lesson comes to us from Luke 16:19-31. In this pericope, we hear about the rich man and Lazaros. The rich man had many possessions. Lazaros had nothing and desired what fell from the rich man's table. Each man died. The rich man's indifference toward Lazaros caused him to end up in hades, while Lazaros found comfort in Abraham's bosom. Father Micah shar...

Today is the Feast day of James the Apostle, the brother of Our Lord. Father Gregory shares with us, from the Book of James, how we might actively become doers of God's Word.

Father Ernesto shares a light sermon as we approach halloween.

Today, Father Micah shares a youth sermon with us on how we become and remain living temples of God.

Today's Gospel reading comes to us from Luke 6:31-36. Jesus says to love our enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. This command from a worldly expectation is impossible. Father Gregory shares insight on how we might work on this commandment. In our Baptism and praying for those who have wronged us we find the Grace of God to love our enemies.

Father Micah shares with us how we might experience God's wonder.

Father Gregory shares words from his recent visit to Mount Athos.