Holy Trinity + Holy Cross - Sermons

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.

Today in Orthodoxy is the Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council held in Nicea in 787 AD. The last of the seven Ecumenical Councils dealt with icons. Father Micah delivers a Youth Sermon and makes several points for us about icons. Icons teach, show us God loves us, remind us Christ, His Mother and the Saints are always with us, they give us opportunity to show Christ how much we love Him and they r...

It has been said that to be victorious over demons one needs to acquire humility. Father Ernesto speaks to us today through the Epistle lesson taken from II Corinthians 11:31 - 12:9. Saint Paul is describing a man who saw visions of heaven and yet only wants to boast in his weaknesses. The proper attitude toward our weaknesses will help us gain humility and live an Orthodox Christian life.

In today's world of instant gratification we forget that the effort and attitude we put into something is the measure of the result obtained. Father Micah expounds from the Epistle taken from II Cor. 9:6-11, that he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Father Micah beautifully relates this effort to The Divine Liturgy.

The goal of an Orthodox Christian is to please God. Saint Anthony the Great a third century saint in the Church was one who lived a life pleasing to God. In today's sermon Father Paul give us three ways we can live in accordance with God's will. First, wherever we go keep God before us, second we must live by the example of Holy Scripture, and thirdly where ever we live stay in that place.

Today is the Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross. Father Ernesto shares with us an Old Testament reading taken from Vespers service for the Elevation of the Holy Cross. The reading is taken from Proverbs and says, Blessed is the man who finds wisdom for she is a tree of life to all who cleave to her. Wisdom of the world is perishing but the wisdom of God grants to us eternal life. Orthodo...

Today Father Micah address the youth at the Cathedral. The Cross of Jesus Christ is a symbol of love for all creation. Father describes several different Crosses. He reminds us we can take the Cross everywhere making the sign of the cross on ourselves properly.

Our Lord told a parable comparing the kingdom of heaven to a king who gave marriage feast for his son. Today is the 14th Sunday of Matthew and the Gospel reading is taken from Matt. 22:2-14. Father Paul shares two spiritual truths that have eternal consequences. The kingdom of God is a realm where there is no pain sorrow or suffering. And the wedding feast or banquet is the Divine Liturgy where we...

The purpose of the Christian life is communion with God. In today's sermon Father Paul uses the Epistle reading taken from I Corinthians 16:13-24 to share with us five virtues toward communion with God.

Today is the 12th Sunday of Matthew. In the Gospel Jesus encounters a rich young ruler who wants to know how to inherit eternal life. He finds out that even though he has kept the commandments he lacks one thing. He was unwilling to leave his love of money and follow Christ. Orthodox Christians should realize that by giving all we do not lose but gain.

It has been said that the Church has one foot in Heaven and one on earth. Father Ernesto gives practical advice taken from today's readings about our foot on earth. Orthodox Christian's are to serve God with their time, talent, and treasure. He encourages us to commit, serve and obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ.