Holy Trinity + Holy Cross - Sermons

In today’s sermon, Fr. Gregory focuses on the end of the Gospel reading describing the Virgin birth. In this passage, the Prophet Isaiah is quoted, “Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.” Fr. Gregory explains why Orthodox Christians hold firmly to the Virgin birth, and he gives a defense of its validity. In addition, he provides evidence for the per...

In this Sunday’s sermon, Fr. Micah reminds us that we can be easily distracted this time of year—distracted by earthly things that turn our attention away from the significance of the season. He reflects on the phrase, “Christ is the reason for the season,” pointing out how it isn’t just a cliche. Instead, Christ is the reason for every season. He is the reason for every story of the Old Testament...

In today’s Epistle reading, the Apostle Paul speaks of the spiritual war against us and the defense we can gird ourselves with: the whole armor of God. Fr. Gregory points out that this military imagery has grounding in Old Testament texts, including Isaiah and the Wisdom of Solomon. He continues by expounding on several of the elements of the armor of God. First is the breastplate of righteousness...

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear how Jesus healed the blind man, saying to him “your faith has made you well.” Fr. Paul expounds on the concept of faith and justification, quoting Galatians 2:16, in which the Apostle Paul explains, “Know that no man is justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.” The Apostle Paul, in his earlier days, sought to experience justification and s...

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the question addressed to our Lord, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Fr. Micah points out that this is the question humans have struggled with for centuries, because it addresses our great enemy: death. Jesus responds with enigmatic words, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God.” Fr. Micah explains that, instead of saying that he...

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus speaks of the “fool who lays up for himself and is not rich toward God.” Fr. Gregory contrasts this foolishness with wisdom, drawing from the the Old Testament wisdom literature, specifically the Wisdom of Ben Sirach. He points out four things from this book about wisdom and its relation toward giving. First, chapter 3 verse 30 says “almsgiving atones for sins.” Sa...

In this week’s Epistle reading, the Apostle Paul writes, “Brethren, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” Fr. Micah explains that this passage is about giving out of love, not giving out of a desire for personal gain. When we give to those in need, we are encountering Christ himself, who said, “What you have done for the least of t...

On this Sunday, the fifth Sunday of Luke, our Gospel reading comes from the second half of Luke chapter 16. However, Fr. Gregory starts with the parable in the first half of the chapter. At the beginning of the chapter, Luke indicates Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees, who were “lovers of money.” He gives them the parable of the unjust steward, in which the steward lowers the debts of his master...

In this Sunday’s Epistle reading from Galatians 2, the Apostle Paul begins by saying that man is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ. Fr. Gregory focuses on two aspects of the passage: faith and justification. He points out that, translated literally from Greek, the passage reads “Man is not justified by works of the law but through the faith of Jesus Christ.” In t...

The Gospel of Saint Luke recounts the restoration of the demon-possessed man in Gerasenes. The man was troubled, unclothed, and living among the tombs. While this story may feel far removed from our lives in modern society, Father Micah reminds us that this story is the story of all humanity. Like the demon-possessed man, we have all been stripped of our garments of innocence, enslaved by our pass...

Many Christians are wondering if we are living in the “end times”. Father Gregory reminds us of the miracle of Christ’s resurrection - the “end times” were inaugurated when Christ rose from the dead. Here he established the new temple, His body, which is also the church. We, the church, are the temple where Christ dwells. The Kingdom of God is already present here on earth. We experience this most...

In today’s Gospel reading, Christ raises the only son of the widow of Nain. Father Gregory shares that this story serves as a foreshadowing of the victory over death Christ achieved on the Holy Cross. This was Christ’s ultimate purpose - to defeat death through His own suffering, death, and resurrection so that we may share in His immortality. This victory over death is a gift only God can give us...

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return,” said our Lord in today’s Gospel of Saint Luke. Father Micah reflects on an anecdote from Saint Silouan the Athonite: love for our enemies is the highest love we are capable of. It is a love that is free from self involvement. This love first requires humility and forgiveness. Forgiveness meaning we remember our enemies’ w...

Reflecting on today’s Gospel reading from Luke Chapter 5, His Grace Bishop Sevastianos of Zelon emphasizes Christ’s words to the disciples: "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." With empty nets, the disciples encountered Christ who blessed them tremendously with more fish than their boats could bear. His Grace reminds us that these fish are symbolic of the many blessings God sho...

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Sophia and her three daughters, Faith, Hope, and Love. Martyrs of the church, these four Saints voluntarily took up their cross and sacrificed their lives instead of denying Christ. “For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it,” said our Lord. Father Gregory connects the recent feast of the...

Judgment and salvation are the two themes presented in today’s Gospel reading. Father Paul poses the question: What must we do to receive a favorable judgment and attain salvation? As Christians, we believe there is a heaven and a hell, and that God exists. Not only do we believe God exists, but we believe Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God. This belief asks that each believer possess a wil...

In Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians he says, “Brethren, be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” Father Micah speaks of the life of Saint Amphilochios Makris of Patmos, a 20th century saint who embodied the words of Saint Paul in today’s epistle reading. Saint Amphilochios is an example to all as he lived the truth of the Gospel o...

Today’s Gospel reading reminds us that in order to inherit eternal life in the Kingdom of heaven we must keep the commandments out of love for Christ, sacrifice all that we have, and follow Him. As the many saints and martyrs of the Church have demonstrated, this means not only sacrificing our material possessions, but also our will and even our life. The young man in the Gospel reading was not ev...

Steven Christoforou is the Director of Operations and Community Engagement for FOCUS North America, an Orthodox Christian non-profit focused on providing solutions to poverty in communities across America. In today’s sermon, Steven references today’s Gospel and Epistle readings to draw our attention to two questions: What do we owe others?; and what do others owe us?. He notes that in today’s soci...

In today’s Gospel reading, Matthew 17:14-23, we hear the story of a father seeking healing for his son who suffered from epilepsy. The father first took his son to Jesus' disciples, who were unable to heal the boy. Confused, the disciples asked Jesus why they were unable to heal him. Jesus noted it was due to their lack of faith: “For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard see...

Today we commemorate a Major Feast, the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ. The Gospel reading from Matthew 17:1-9 narrates when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain and was transfigured before them revealing His Divinity. Moses and Elijah appear and speak with Jesus leading Peter to ask if he should build three booths for them. Father Gregory encourages us to know scripture and re...

In today’s Gospel reading, Matthew 14:14-22, Jesus feeds a crowd of more than 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. Father Micah dives into the element of bread in today’s sermon: bread, being food, reminds us of our dependence on God, the Provider and Creator. Just as the Israelites depended on God to feed them in the desert, we too depend on God for sustenance, for life. Fath...

In today’s Epistle reading, Romans 15:1-7, St. Paul speaks of hope in the Holy Scriptures, at that time being the Old Testament. We also celebrate the Prophet Ezekiel today, July 23rd. Father Gregory connects today’s epistle reading with the prophecy of the “valley of dry bones” from the Prophet Ezekiel, who lived during Old Testament times. The vision presented to Ezekiel is not only one of death...

In today’s Gospel reading, Matthew 5:14-19, Christ tells his disciples that “You are the light of the world.” Father Micah reminds us in today’s sermon that this light is not of our own, but the light of Christ. How then can we be this light to the world, as we are called? As a mirror reflects the sun, we can reflect the light of Christ by communing with him and doing good works. We then not only...

In today’s Gospel reading, Matt. 8:28-34, 9:1, we hear from St. Matthew the story of Jesus casting out two demons in the country of Gergesenes. This passage is often referred to as the story of “the demons and the swine.” Father Ernesto challenges us to analyze this familiar story in a new way by asking the questions: Why weren’t the two demoniacs thrown out of town by the people?; and why didn’t...