Holy Trinity + Holy Cross - Sermons

This Sunday, the Church places before us St. John Climacus, the author of The Ladder of Divine Ascent, which presents the Christian life as a long ascent from the distorted, fallen world to participation in the very mind of Christ.After recounting the story of St. John Climacus, Fr. Gregory turns his attention to The Ladder of Divine Ascent, containing 30 rungs beginning with repentance and ending in love. Fr. Gregory explains that each step is not merely something we do, but something we become; it is a transformation of the human person. However, sometimes we fall. As St. John Climacus wrote: “Do not be surprised if you fall every day. Do not give up, but stand your ground courageously. Stand up again. Continue the climb after the demons have knocked you off the ladder.”The first steps of the ladder are the steps of struggle: repentance, prayer, and fasting by which the heart is purified. Fr. Gregory connects this struggle to today’s Gospel reading, in which a father brings his son, who is possessed by a demon, to Christ. The father asks Christ, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Christ responds, “If you can? All things are possible for the one who believes.”The question here is not Christ’s ability, but whether the human heart is ready to trust him. The problem is not only faith, but our perception of him. The Father does not yet see clearly who Christ is. Here, Fr. Gregory says, at the very beginning of the ladder, we see what the entire ascent is about: the gradual healing of how we see and understand Christ and therefore how we see and understand everything. The goal of the spiritual life is not simply to behave differently, but to acquire the mind of Christ — to learn to see the world the way Christ sees it. This transformation, Fr. Gregory reminds us, happens in the ordinary struggles of daily life, and especially in relationships.Fr. Gregory encourages us that we are not alone as we climb the ladder. Christ stands at the top, strengthening our every step. Though we stumble and fall, by repentance we may rise again and continue climbing. Every temptation, difficult relationship, act of humility, and moment of forgiveness becomes another rung on the ladder leading us to God. Fr. Gregory encourages us to make the prayer of the father in today’s Gospel reading our own, holding fast to Christ that our hearts may be purified, our minds illumined, and our vision healed. Then, we will discover that the struggles of life are not obstacles to our salvation, but the very ladder by which God raises us to himself.

On this second Sunday of Great Lent, the church places before us the witness of St. Gregory Palamas, who defended the truth that God is not distant or abstract, but present and active. He is not knowable in his essence, which remains beyond comprehension, but in his living and uncreated grace. Through prayer, repentance, and the life of the church, humans may participate in the living presence of God. God became Man so that man might truly participate in God — not in his essence, but in his life.Fr. Gregory connects the teachings of St. Gregory Palamas to today’s Gospel reading, in which Christ heals a paralyzed man. In this account, we see a revelation of divine energy at work, what it looks like when the uncreated energy of God touches a human life. When the paralytic is brought before Christ, He first heals the deeper paralysis, saying, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Before healing the body, Christ heals the soul. To reveal his authority to the scribes, he says, “Arise, take up your bed and go to your house.” The same divine light that shone from Christ at the transfiguration now restores this paralyzed, broken man.Fr. Gregory reminds us that Pascha is not merely a date on the calendar, but illumination and participation in the uncreated light of the resurrection that makes all things new. He encourages us to continue the fast not as though we’re earning something, but as those being carried to Christ, those laying our paralysis before him, those receiving forgiveness of our sins, those receiving healing, and those rising when Christ says, “Arise, take up your bed and walk.”

On this Sunday, as we stand at the threshold of Lent, Christ tells us, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Fr. Gregory emphasizes this passage in today’s sermon.Fr. Gregory explains that forgiveness isn’t optional; if we desire mercy, we must be merciful. However, we resist forgiving because it requires humility. This humility is remembering that everything we have is mercy, and we stand before God as debtors. As long as one is certain of his own righteousness and sits in judgment over another, he cannot forgive. However, the one who truly sees his own sins loses the desire to condemn anyone else; and here, we find humility and freedom, with a heart that can forgive. Fr. Gregory also highlights Luke 6, in which Christ says, “Give, and it will be given to you, for with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”Fr. Gregory continues, explaining that the church surrounds this entire Lenten season with mercy, and we begin by forgiving one another. Throughout Lent, fasting and forgiveness work together — the fast trains the body while forgiveness trains the heart. This prepares us for communion with Christ and with one another. Fr. Gregory encourages us to remember the mercy that sustains our lives, to bow our hearts low, and forgive abundantly, entering this Great Lent in mercy and repentance that we may arrive at Pascha in true communion with Christ and one another.

On this Sunday, we read the parable of the prodigal son, a story which prepares us for Lent by showing us the nature of repentance. Fr. Gregory explains that Lent is not a season of self-condemnation, a project of moral improvement, or a spiritual competition; rather, it is a journey home to our father’s house, where we are embraced with feasting and joy like the prodigal son.

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the story of Zacchaeus, whose desire for God led to transformation. Fr. Gregory explains that every movement of the soul begins with desire. Desire then becomes vision, vision becomes communion, and communion becomes transformation. We see this in Zacchaeus’ story, and also in the story of St. Gregory the Theologian, whom we celebrate today.Fr. Gregory draws parallels between these two men, who followed the same path of holy desire. Like Zacchaeus, St. Gregory sought to see Christ, to receive him in humility, and to offer his whole life in return.This is also the story of every soul that seeks Christ, Fr. Gregory explains. First, we see him from afar, stirred by longing. Then, we receive him with joy, opening the door of our hearts. Finally, we give ourselves in love, allowing his grace to shape every part of our lives. This is the pilgrimage of the human heart: from curiosity to communion and from desire to transformation.

In today’s Gospel reading, Christ begins his public ministry, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Fr. Gregory explains that repentance is a complete reorientation of the heart, mind, and will toward God. In Greek, the word “repentance” means to change one’s mind or to turn one’s whole being around. True repentance is not an emotion or passing sense of guilt, but rather it is a turning away from sin and toward Christ.Fr. Gregory continues, explaining that repentance is the transformation of all things into thanksgiving, of life into worship. The church, in her wisdom, gives us practical disciplines by which we may live out our repentance, such as getting a spiritual father, going to confession, keeping a prayer rule, reading the Scriptures daily, and helping the poor. Fr. Gregory encourages us to follow these disciplines that we may live in repentance and that our lives may reflect the beauty and order of the Divine Liturgy.

In today’s sermon, Fr. Micah speaks of the first Christmas carol to ever be written, the final line of which references King Herod’s order to slaughter the male infants. Why, during this joyous time, was so much emphasis placed on death? Fr. Micah explains that this is because the purpose of our Lord’s coming was to destroy death by his death.Fr. Micah emphasizes that Christ is the Light of the Father, who shines upon both the good and the evil. The first step to seeing and rejoicing in this light, Fr. Micah says, is to admit that we’re in darkness, and we are sinners. Second, we must receive the mysteries, the windows by which the light of the age to come shines into the world.

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, our Lord tells a parable of a man who has a banquet, and it’s implied that the man is the Lord himself. We hear of those who are invited to the banquet, but they choose not to go and make excuses.Fr. Micah challenges us to reflect on how we, too, make excuses to avoid our Lord. He encourages us to stop making these excuses, but rather to be humble and honest.Continuing in the Gospel reading, we hear of how the poor, maimed, blind, and lame are invited to the banquet. If we are poor of virtue, maimed by sin, blind and unable to see what to do with our lives, we are still invited to the banquet.Finally, Fr. Micah reminds us that this Sunday is the Sunday of the Forefathers, when we remember the righteous of the Old Testament. He encourages us to read the stories of Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel, Elijah, and so many more, that we may reflect on the abounding love of God.