Holy Trinity + Holy Cross - Sermons

Today in Orthodoxy we commemorate the Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council that gathered in Chalcedon in 451 AD. The council ruled that Jesus Christ is "in two natures" in opposition to the doctrine of Monophysitism. Father Ernesto shares with us the definition of heresy and how these Fathers were able to come together to find peace with one mind and heart.

In the gospel reading today taken from Matthew 6:22-33 we hear that "the eye is the lamp of the body". To see clearly we must allow our eyes to focus on that which we seek. Father Gregory shares with us that Jesus came to establish His Kingdom and set the ground rules for its citizens. As Orthodox Christians we must learn to see the world as Christ Himself saw the world and take every opportunity...

Orthodox Christians in the United States are not persecuted as our fellow Christians from other parts of the world. Today in Orthodoxy we commemorate the Twelve Apostles, those men whom Jesus called to be diplomats of the kingdom. Father Ernesto shares with us a message that calls all Orthodox Christians to martyrdom. Saint Paul states in the Epistle that he and others were "like men sentenced to...

All Orthodox Christians are called to be saints. Today in Orthodoxy is the Sunday of All Saints, which is always commemorated the Sunday after Holy Pentecost. Father Paul shares with a message of hope and encouragement as he reflects on the lives of Orthodox saints and how they obtained the Grace of God and manifested Christian living in this life. In our lives we should do what God wants us to do...

In society we have many divisions, some of these are natural like space, time and death. Today is Pentecost in the Orthodox Church a Major Feast Day in which we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. The Holy Spirit brought unity to the Church removing the divisions of time,space and death. Father Micah shares with us that if we have love and humility for God and man it allows t...

In society the truth is seen as subjective. Today in Orthodoxy we commemorate the Father's of the First Ecumenical Council, who were assembled to refute a heresy, of Jesus being created like the rest of the world. Father Gregory expounds on the Epistle Lesson from the Book of Acts and connects St. Paul and the Holy Father's as shepherds who were zealous for the salvation of their flocks.

Today is the Sixth Sunday after Pascha also known as the Sunday of the Blind Man. Father Elias shares with that all of life is a journey from being a slave, to an hireling and then to a son. Each of us must let go of possessions so that we might be purified by Christ and become inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Today is " Youth Sunday" at Holy Trinity - Holy Cross. Father Micah shares with the youth and us a message of hope, that if we seek to know Christ instead of simply knowing about Him we will never be alone.

Today in Orthodoxy is the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women. The hymnology and indeed the commemoration today is that of The Resurrection, which is the greatest cosmic and salvific event in the history of the world. Father Paul shares with us that we can inherit eternal life and indeed purpose in this life by believing in the Resurrection and allowing Christ to remove the stones that hinder us at...

Today is commonly known as Thomas Sunday. Father Gregory shares with us a practical and inspiring message of good unbelief. A good unbelief is one that compels us to draw closer to Christ and experience Him for ourselves. The Orthodox Church has given us tools to both draw close to Christ and touch Him in the Eucharist as we do at every Divine Liturgy.

Today in Orthodoxy is Palm Sunday. Father Gregory shares with us two scents we we have read about from this weeks Gospel readings. The first scent is the stench of sin and death that Martha is worried about coming from the tomb of Lazarus. The other is the fragrance of a very costly oil of spikenard being poured out on Jesus' feet by Mary. Her sacrifice of love is at a supper soon after He had rid...

In today's Gospel lesson taken from Mark 10:32-45, Jesus speaks clearly to the Apostle the things that He must endure before His Passion. In there disconnectedness they can only ask a favor and a place next to Him in His Kingdom. Our Lord says that if anyone desires to be great he must first serve. Father Micah shares with us examples of those who served and now enjoy the greatness in Christ's Kin...

We live in a world where peace can be hard to find. Most people do not understand how it is they may find this fruit of the Holy Spirit. Father Paul shares a practical message of how we as Orthodox Christians can find peace through prayer. The two expressions of prayer he mentions are private and Liturgical and both are important in the attainment of peace. Prayer is said to be the greatest of all...

In today's society Christianity has been reduced to the "prosperity Gospel of name it and claim it". Today is the midpoint of Lent and on this third Sunday of Lent the Orthodox Church brings out the Cross for our contemplation and veneration. Father Gregory shares with us both the historical setting of the Gospel lesson taken form Mark 8:34 - 9:1 and it's spiritual significance for the Orthodox Ch...

Father Ernesto shares with us that Our Lord sees us as people and not our condition, which is opposite from society. Today in Orthodoxy is the second Sunday of Great Lent and the Gospel Lesson is from Mark 2: 1-12. In the Gospel Jesus shows the people He is God by healing the mans paralysis but not before forgiving his sins. Forgiveness leads to healing and reminds us of the Sacrament of Confessio...

Today is the first Sunday of Great Lent. It is known as the Sunday of Orthodoxy because we commemorate the restoration of Holy Icons back into the church. Father Micah shares with us how Icons have from the early church not only taught the faithful but carried us into Christ's presence. Icons are windows that fill our world with light and truly reveal our Lord's Incarnation.

Today in Orthodoxy is Cheesefare or Forgiveness Sunday. Father Gregory shares two themes the Church wants to communicate by way of the Gospel taken from Matthew 6:14-21. The Expulsion of Adam and Eve is commemorated today to show us how disobedience separates us from God. While forgiveness between God and man unites us with Him and others.

Today we celebrate the third Pre-Lenten Sunday also known as Meatfare or Judgement Sunday. Bishop Alexios share with us that this terrifying judgement will depend on how we love other people in the life.

It has been said that if all of Jesus' words were somehow erased except the parable of "The Prodigal Son" Christianity would continue to flourish. We are all familiar with this parable that has three characters the father, the older son and the younger son. Father Paul shares with us he has never tired of reading or preaching this parable in forty plus years. The message the Church wants us to her...

One not need look far for examples of prideful behavior in our society. In today's Gospel reading we here the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee, both of whom went to the temple to speak to God. Father Paul shares with us that there is indeed a correct way to pray; that being the content along with the disposition of humility and faith. As the Gospel says " whoever exalts himself will be hum...

They say you cannot judge a book by its cover and yet most of us struggle with the sin of being judgmental. In the Gospel lesson for today taken from Matthew 15: 21-28 judging a woman who was not a Jew. The Canaanite woman came to Jesus imploring Him to have mercy on her and heal her daughter. Jesus refers to her as a little dog because the disciples saw her that way. Jesus teaches the disciples a...

Today Father Micah shares with the youth a few words about The Presentation of Our Lord. He in his always loving and caring way reminds the kids that we as Orthodox are to live our lives following the pattern of Jesus'.

Today in Orthodoxy is the well known Sunday of Zacchaios and the Gospel reading is taken form Luke 19:1-10. Father Paul shares with us the necessary first step in the spiritual life is a willingness or desire to know God. We learn from Zacchaios that we cannot let obstacles or limitations hinder us in seeing Jesus. Our Lord recognized Zacchaios' desire and approached him at that moment as He will...