Holy Trinity + Holy Cross - Sermons

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...

Many of us cannot admit when we are having trouble coping with everyday life. Father Ernesto expounds on the Epistle for today, taken from II Corinthians 4: 6-15. In this epistle Saint Paul calls our human weakness an earthen vessel. In our earthen vessels during difficult times we can call out to God and He can work through us to show His Glory to others.

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand", these words come to us from the Gospel Lesson for today, this Sunday after Theophany and were spoken by Jesus at the beginning of His ministry. In life we have traffic signals to help us navigate busy intersections without incurring grave consequences. We also have spiritual traffic lights to help us to know God and experience His Kingdom both now an...

Today in Orthodoxy we celebrate the Major Feast Day of Epiphany. Father Micah shares with us a message about the significance of water in our lives. Water is symbolic of life, death, humility and it is also glorious. Jesus not only enters into the River Jordan, but into our lives to become like us except with out sin.

The old saying goes "don't judge a book by it's cover". Father Ernesto takes the readings from this Sunday after the Nativity and shares with us a unique contrast between Herod and Paul. He also reminds us that we should never assume when evaluating people, but should extend ourselves to others in need.

Bishop Alexios is vising us today and gives us a message of peace and love to reflect on this Nativity. God out of His Divine love for us gave us the gift of Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus brought peace into the world and it is up to us to receive His peace. Divine love had no limitations and will allow us to love God and neighbor.

The universal longing of people is happiness or as the Bible says Blessedness. To find Blessedness in this life and in God's Kingdom we must receive Bread at the Divine Banquet, that being non other than Jesus Christ Himself. Father Paul expounds on the Gospel taken from Luke 14:16-24, where we hear a parable of The Great Banquet. He shares what the Church Father's say about the parable and its re...

Father Micah give a youth sermon today and helps to understand gift giving at Christmas. God gave us the best gift He could when He sent His Son into the world to do for us that which we cannot do for ourselves. We too can give to Jesus our love and thanksgiving.

The universal longing of all Christians is Eternal Life in the presence of our Creator. Father Paul shares with us that to obtain Eternal Life one must know God. To know God we must come to Church because she is the pillar of truth and the body of Christ. The second thing we must do is pray, because there is no such thing as Christian who does not pray.

The Book of Hebrews tells us that the Word of God has the ability to pierce and cut into our hearts. Father Micah reminds us that all Gospel readings can change us into true followers of Christ if we allow them too. Christ can raise us up from that which binds us so we can follow Him and not walk away like the rich ruler in today's Gospel taken from Luke 18:18-27.

Today is stewardship Sunday in our Greek Orthodox parish in Birmingham, AL. The Gospel reading taken from Luke 12:16-21 is the parable of The Rich Fool. Father Ernesto shares with us that to find happiness in life we must live balanced lives between the world and our faith. Orthodox Christians should not store up our time, talent and treasures in the world while neglecting being rich toward God.

What shall I do to inherit eternal life? A lawyer once posed this question to Jesus and our Saviour responded with the familiar parable of The Good Samaritan. Today Father Paul speaks to our youth about the Gospel lesson taken from Luke 10:25-37. He explains if we want eternal life we must love and show compassion to the people God has placed in our lives.

It has been said that the Incarnation continues today through the sacramental life of Orthodoxy because Our Lord can still be seen,touched and heard within the Church. Father Micah shares with us several points about Christian stewardship. Truly our entire life becomes stewardship by the giving of our time, talent and treasure back to God.

In today's world the need for healing is evident. On this the 7th Sunday of Luke the Gospel reading is from Luke 8:41-56. Two miracles were performed by Jesus simply through the power of His touch. Simply by being Himself He heals Jairus' daughter and the women with an issue of blood. The miracles performed by Jesus give us a glimpse of the future when all will be healed. Through the Sacramental l...

Today is the 7th Sunday of Luke. The Gospel reading is taken from Luke 8:41-56 and in it we hear about the women with the issue of blood who believed if she touched the hem of Jesus' garment she would be healed. Father Micah shares with us that salvation is woven throughout scripture. He makes a compelling case that the fabric we cloth ourselves with should indeed be the divinity of Christ.

The end goal of every Christian is being justified before God. Father Paul expounds on the Epistle lesson today taken from Galatians 2:16-20. In this sermon he defines justification and explains what is needed to be justified before God. Because faith is that which justifies a man, Father Paul helps the listener understand how we come to faith.