Holy Trinity + Holy Cross - Sermons

This Sunday, the Sunday following Pentecost, is the Sunday of All Saints. In his sermon, Fr. Micah reflects on what it means to be a saint, to be holy. He emphasizes that Christ shares his holiness with us, and his life is the life of the saints. The saints, like Christ, exhibit humility, overcome the evil one, have compassion for all, pray without ceasing, and are often obedient unto death. Thoug...

On this Sunday, we celebrate the First Ecumenical Council, which occurred in Nicaea in 325 AD. Before addressing that council, Fr. Gregory first addresses the Council of Jerusalem, which established the foundation of our conciliar tradition in the Orthodox Church. This council, the account of which we find in Acts 15, was convened to address the question of whether or not Greek gentile converts mu...

Description: In today’s Gospel reading, Christ gives sight to the blind man, which Fr. Micah relates to our own blindness. In the fall, there was a blindness that came into creation — not only an inability to see God, but to see his image in our neighbor. When we are baptized, we are given new eyes, just as Christ gave the blind man new eyes. And yet, because of the passions, which are rooted in s...

In today’s sermon, Fr. Gregory focuses on the Epistle reading, which says, “For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians.” He addresses the question, “What does it mean to be a Christian and a church member?,” with three key points. First, we must resolve to be functioning church members, und...

In today’s Gospel reading, on this Sunday of the Paralytic, we begin a three-week theme of water. The paralytic lies next to a pool, the Samaritan woman goes to the well of Jacob, and the blind man goes to the pool of Siloam. Fr. Micah briefly retells the story of the paralytic, emphasizing his answer to Christ when he asks if he wants to be well. He answers, “Lord, I have no man to put me into th...

On this Sunday, we commemorate the myrrh bearers. In his sermon, Fr. Gregory addresses three questions: (1) Who were the myrrh bearers? (2) What did they do? and (3) What does all this mean for us? Fr. Gregory introduces the ten myrrh-bearers — eight women and two men— and explains their connection to Christ and his ministry. Then, he tells their story, a story of courage, faith, love, selflessnes...

On this Sunday of Thomas, Fr. Micah reminds us that we celebrate the resurrection not just on Pascha, but on every Sunday throughout the year. He emphasizes the centrality of the resurrection of Christ in our Orthodox faith, and he encourages us to truly celebrate these 50 days following Pascha, these days of salvation, resurrection, and joy leading to Pentecost. To celebrate Christ’s resurrection...

In today’s sermon on Palm Sunday, Fr. Gregory focuses on the Epistle reading from Philippians 4. Within this passage are three things essential to our journey through Holy Week — and our journey through life: joy, forbearance, and peace through prayer. Fr. Gregory references a book called The Happiness Hypothesis, written by Jonathan Haidt, demonstrating how the conclusions of his research dovetai...

On this Sunday, the fifth Sunday of Lent, we remember St. Mary of Egypt. Fr. Micah begins today’s sermon by telling her story — a story of great repentance and great mercy. From a young age, St. Mary of Egypt lived a life of indulgence in the pleasures of the flesh. When she tried to enter the sanctuary of a church, she was prevented by an invisible force. She looked to the icon of the Mother of G...

In today’s Epistle reading from Hebrews, we hear of Melchizedek, a figure introduced much earlier in Genesis. Fr. Gregory tells the story from Genesis in which Melchizedek, who is identified as both a king and a priest, appears to Abraham. After this story, Melchizedek is not spoken of again until Psalm 110, a Messianic Psalm written by King David, which says, “The Lord has sworn and will not chan...

In today’s Gospel reading, Christ tells us that, if we wish to follow him, we must deny ourselves and take up our crosses. Today, the Sunday of the Holy Cross, Fr. Micah emphasizes this denial of ourselves — doing that which we don’t want to do, and doing it out of love for the other. Christ shows us what this love looks like in its perfection. He took up his cross, he tasted bitterness, he went d...

On this Sunday and all Sundays of Lent, we celebrate the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great rather than the more common liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. Fr. Gregory explains that the beginning of the liturgies are the same, but after the Gospel and homily, the biggest difference between them is the anaphora prayer. The anaphora prayer in the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is both a teaching and meditat...

In today’s Gospel reading, Phillip tells Nathaniel, “We have found him, he of whom Moses has spoken, Jesus of Nazareth.” Nazareth did not have a great reputation for piety, and Nathaniel asks, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Instead of trying to explain, Phillip simply says “Come and see.” Fr. Micah points out that the phrase “come and see” is very profound in that it points to the indes...

On this Forgiveness Sunday (also referred to as Cheesefare Sunday), the church commemorates the exile of Adam and Eve from Paradise. They had complete freedom in the Garden of Eden to choose obedience to God, to choose to not eat from the tree. However, they chose to eat of the tree and not keep this original fast. Fr. Gregory explains that Lent, which beings after Forgiveness Sunday, represents o...

On this Sunday of the Last Judgment, the Very Rev. Archpriest Andrew Stephen Damick visited Holy Trinity + Holy Cross and gave a sermon on what the Last Judgment means. Many imagine a scary courtroom when they think of the last judgment. However, Fr. Andrew points out that the last judgment is about putting things right, putting things in order. This will be a pleasant experience for some and an u...

On this Saturday of the Souls, Fr. Gregory addresses the question of why Orthodox Christians pray for the reposed. He explains that we are comfortable with both the idea that life is for repentance, not death, but also that prayers for the reposed are effective. He gives the example of St. Gregory the Dialogus and the story of Luke 18 to demonstrate the power of consistent prayer. He continues, gi...

Fr. Micah begins today’s sermon by quoting the Epistle, in which Paul says, “Glorify God in your body.” Fr. Micah emphasizes the importance of the physical and the sacredness of the body. He then references the parable of the prodigal son in today's gospel reading, pointing out that a physical hunger is the starting point of the prodigal son’s transformation. He explains that hunger causes us to r...

This Sunday is the beginning of the Triodion, a three-week period of preparation for Holy Lent which begins with the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee. In the Gospel reading, Christ gives a parable contrasting two kinds of prayer, demonstrating the importance of humility. In the parable, a Pharisee and a publican (tax collector) go to the temple to pray. The Pharisee prays by giving thanks t...

This Sunday, we celebrate the Presentation of Christ at the Temple, 40 days after his birth. We read the story of St. Symeon, a righteous and devout elderly man who had eagerly waited at the Temple to behold Christ as he was promised by the Holy Spirit. When he takes Christ into his arms, he says to him, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace according to your word; for my eyes have...

In this period of time following Theophany, we invite Jesus into our homes through house blessings. Similarly, in today’s Gospel reading, a sinful tax collector named Zacchaeus welcomes Jesus into his home and thereby gains salvation for him and his household. In today’s sermon, Fr. Gregory points out several aspects of the story of Zacchaeus and how we can apply them to our own lives. First, we s...

In today’s Gospel reading, we encounter 10 lepers crying out to Christ, saying, “Jesus Most High, have mercy on us.” Christ heals them all, but only one, a Samaritan, returns to thank him. Fr. Micah encourages us to be like the lepers, coming to the Lord in our times of need. Not only can we come to Christ in our times of need, though, but we can come to him in every circumstance. Fr. Micah gives...

Fr. Gregory begins today’s sermon by relaying a message told to him by Elder Gabriel when he was visiting Mount Athos last week. He said, “Why do we exist here on earth? It is to give glory to God and to give joy to others.” In today’s Epistle reading, St. Paul gives a similar message to the Ephesians. He tells them that God has given each of them gifts to use for the building up of the church. Fr...

Fr. Micah begins today’s sermon by contrasting the Christian tradition of celebrating one’s name day with the more modern practice of celebrating one’s birthday. He explains that one’s name day is the day that has eternal significance rather than mere biological significance. It is the day of one’s birth within the church, a remembrance of one’s baptism. On this eve of Theophany, Fr. Micah further...

In today’s sermon, Fr. Micah contrasts being right with being righteous. He draws our attention to one line from the Gospel reading, which says, “Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to put her to shame…” Joseph’s righteousness was not in his being right, but in his unwillingness to put Mary to shame. In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ tells us to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfe...

In today’s Gospel reading, we find Christ’s parable of the great banquet. In the parable, all are invited to attend a wealthy man’s feast, which represents God’s Kingdom. Fr. Gregory opens his sermon by explaining that a growing number of people are religiously unaffiliated. Studies show that many of them would come to church if only they were invited, but a very small percentage of Christians eve...