Holy Trinity + Holy Cross - Sermons

The cycle of the Gospel of Saint Luke in the Orthodox Church always starts after the conslusion of the Feast of The Holy Cross. Today on the First Sunday of St. Luke the Gospel lesson comes to us from Luke 5:1-11. Father Gregory shares with us an inspiring message that we can encounter the Living God if we hear and are obedient to His word. In today’s Gospel lesson Peter and the other disciples he...

Today on the Sunday after The Holy Cross the Gospel reading comes to us from Mark 8:34-38;9:1. In this pericope Jesus says, “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”. His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios shares with us a message of hope, that the crosses or personal difficulties we encounter in our lives are given to each of us as a responsibility,...

Today Father Micah shares with us a message of hope, that if we look to Jesus in faith and live a life that is permeated with the presence of the Risen Christ, we will inherit eternal life. On the Sunday before the Holy Cross the Gospel reading comes to us from John 3:13-17. In this pericope Jesus says, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, tha...

Today on the 13th Sunday of Matthew Father Gregory shares with us a message of encouragement, that all things are given to us by God for His Glory. The Gospel lesson comes to us from Matthew 21:33-42. In this pericope we hear the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, who after being given everything needed to produce fruit as tenants chose to forget their place in the vineyard as stewards and even k...

In today's Gospel lesson taken from Matthew 19:16-26, we hear about a young man kneeling before Jesus and asking Him how he might receive eternal life. Jesus tells him to keep the commandments and he will live. The young man replies that he has kept the commandments and asks Jesus; what do I still lack? Jesus tells the man to attain perfection he should sell all his possessions, give to the poor a...

Today on the eleventh Sunday of Matthew the Gospel lesson comes to us from Matthew 18:23-35 and it accounts for us the parable of the “Unforgiving Servant”. Peter asks Jesus how many times should he forgive others who sin against him, and using human calculations Peter says; up to seven times? Jesus' answer to Peter is Christian Math and He says seven times seventy, indicating forgiving others an...

In today’s Epistle is taken from I Corinthians 4:9-16, Saint Paul is speaking about a problem of disunity, fighting and scandal within the church. In much the same manner as today, certain self-appointed leaders had begun to preach a prosperity Gospel, where you can live your best life now. Father Gregory shares with us how Saint Paul answers this very problem. Saint Paul, a true apostle contrasts...

It is no mystery we are living in troubled times. The maladies we are contending with have caused us to live in an era of fear. The opposite of fear is courage and peace, the latter of which comes from above and is something we pray for at every Divine Liturgy. Today on the 9th Sunday of Matthew the Gospel lesson comes to us from Matthew 14:22-34. In this pericope the disciples find themselves alo...

A crisis forces us to discern between two things and make a choice, therefore revealing where we stand. The current crisis we find ourselves living in has revealed a lot about this country and the division of its citizens. Jesus Christ brings crisis and presents a fork in the road for His followers, forcing them to choose between what the world is saying and He is saying. In today’s Gospel lesson...

Today in the Orthodox Church we commemorate the Holy Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council. This is one of seven ecumenical councils the Church recognizes that laid the foundation for believers in acknowledging who God is and how He is to be worshipped. Father Deacon Tikhon reminds us that these councils were not without controversy, and despite human shortcomings the Holy Spirit has guided the...

The Saints in Orthodox Church are part of the never-ending Gospel. Orthodox Christians are comforted in knowing the Saints are not only alive but show us love. Today on May 12th we commemorate Saint Paisios, a contemporary saint in The Church. Father Micah shares with us how the saints although seldom seen or heard are a continuation of the Gospel. He gives special importance to contemporary saint...

In today's Gospel reading taken from Matthew 8:5-13 Jesus marvels at the faith of a Roman centurion. Father Gregory shares with us how this centurion's faith is put on display for all to see, through obedience and acknowledgement of Jesus' authority. This Roman soldier is a man under authority as well as responsible for those who are under his authority, included the servant for which he has besou...

Today in the Orthodox Church on the third Sunday of Matthew the Gospel lesson comes to us from Matthew 6:22-33. In this Gospel lesson Jesus tell us not to be anxious about our daily sustenance because it will not add one day to our life. Jesus tells us that our heavenly Father knows our needs and we should seek His Kingdom and His righteousness first and all our needs will be met. Worry and anxiet...

Today in Orthodoxy is the 2nd Sunday of Matthew as well as Father’s Day in the United States. The Gospel reading comes to us from Matthew 4:18-23 and accounts for us the calling of Jesus’ first four disciples. Father Gregory shares with us an inspiring message about discipleship and connects the Gospel to fatherhood. The Gospel takes us back to the beginning of Christ’s ministry just after His Bap...

On the first Sunday following the Feast of Pentecost the Orthodox Church observes All Saints Sunday. This is a commemoration of all the saints known and unknown who have Glorified God by their holy lives and have been added to the choir of those in His Presence. Father Ernesto shares with us the history behind All Saints Sunday beginning with its original name of All Martyrs Sunday. In the United...

Today in Orthodoxy we celebrate the Major Feast of Pentecost and the name day of our beloved Cathedral. Pentecost was originally an Old Testament Feast that celebrated the giving of the law by Moses to the people but it took on new meaning for Christians when the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples in the upper room. Father Gregory shares with us a powerful message of how we as Orthodox Christi...

Today is the Sunday of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council. Father Micah encourages us to know that words have the power to lift us up and can become life to someone who is hurting. Scripture tells us that no man ever spoke like Jesus Christ and that the words He spoke came from The Father. He also reminds us that it is a mistake to read Scripture outside of the Church, which is what conde...

Today on the Sunday of The Blind Man the Gospel lesson comes to us from John 9:1-38. In this Gospel lesson Jesus gives sight to a man born without eyes by anointing him with clay made from the dust of the ground. Father Deacon Tikhon shares with us that this Gospel lesson as well as our most recent following Pascha help to understand that it is how we respond to Christ's love in interaction with H...

Today in Orthodoxy is known as the Sunday of The Samaritan Woman. The Gospel reading comes to us from John 4:5-42. In this pericope Jesus approaches a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well and asks her for a drink. She is surprised by the request because the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans and in antiquity men did not speak to women other than their wives or daughters. Father Paul shares with u...

Today in Orthodoxy is the Sunday of the Paralytic. The Gospel lesson comes to us from John 5:1-15. In this Gospel reading we hear of a man paralyzed for thirty-eight years who is healed by Jesus. Father Gregroy contrasts the two different attitudes of facing obstacles that were set before the Myrhh Bearing women from last weeks Gospel and this paralytic who laid on the fringes of healing at the Sh...

Today on the Third Sunday of Pascha we commemorate the Holy Myrrh - Bearing Women along with the secret disciples of the Lord Joseph and Nicodemus. Father Gregory shares with us that these figures in the Gospel were tranformed through their encounters with Jesus Christ. Saint Luke records in his Gospel that Jesus went through the villages healing and preaching with the twelve Apostles and some wom...

Today is the first Sunday following Pascha and commonly known as Thomas Sunday in the Orthodox Church. Father Micah shares with us that the Gospel reading taken from John 20:19-31 is not only read today, but at various times during the year as one of the eleven Orthros or Matins Gospel readings. These Orthros Gospels are some of the Church's most important readings because they are permeated with...

Today in Orthodoxy is Palm Sunday. It commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem six day before the Passover and shortly after He had raised Lazarus from the dead. Jesus was heralded and received as King of Israel as the people took branches of palms and went out to meet Him crying, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”. Father Paul shares with us some poignant w...

Today on the Fifth Sunday of Lent we commemorate Saint Mary of Egypt. Father Micah shares with us that Saint Mary lived a profligate life before traveling to Jerusalem with a group of pilgrims, who were journeying to venerate the Holy Cross. Upon seeing the crowds entering the Church of the Resurrection Mary sought to follow them, but an invisible force prevented her from entering. She realized th...

Today on the Fourth Sunday of Lent the Gospel lesson comes to us from Mark 9:17-31. Father Gregory shares with us how this New Testament reading echoes the Old Testament as well as how it applies today as we remember Saint John Climacus. This reading narrates a story about a man approaching Jesus seeking healing for his son who has a demon. This he does after he had sought help from the disciples...