Monday Inspirations 03/16/26
Posted March 16, 2026
Inspiration to Start the Work Week
Come now, O first-formed couple and pair, who by the envy of humanity's murderer had fallen from heaven's chorus through having tasted of old the most bitter sweetness of the fateful tree. Behold, as the other Tree, which is truly all-venerable, today is coming. Therefore run to it and with joy cry aloud with faith, and embracing it say to it: You, O all-venerable Cross are truly our source of help; we have partaken of your fruit, and incorruption instead of death have we thus acquired and great mercy and with certainty Eden once again.
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
This powerful hymn from the Vespers before the Veneration of the Cross shows us how important it is to embrace the Cross with joy. It is a life giving tree that leads us back to paradise. Nothing meaningful in life is ever gained without a struggle, sacrifice, without much love and devotion. Because of Christ's resurrection the Cross is a sign of victory for us. In it we place our hope knowing that Christ emptied himself on the Cross for all of us.
Today we venerated the Cross and it will remain in the center of the solea all week for us to gain strength from it at the midpoint of the fast.
The youth post is great again, I share it below.
I received this beautiful article about Anna Counelis who has served as organist for the Ascension Cathedral in Oakland, California for 85 years. She truly is a profound example of one serving with love and devotion. My dad was the priest in Oakland for decades, so Anna was an inspiration to me growing up and she continues to be. Here is a link to the article: https://orthodoxobserver.org/everyone-can-sing-says-longtime-organist-anna-counelis/. I hope this will inspire many to join the choir.
Have a beautiful day and a blessed week!
Love in Christ,
Fr. Paul
Y2AM - Orthodox Christian Youth and Young Adult Ministries
The Third Sunday of Lent, the Sunday of the Holy Cross, arrives right when many of us feel worn down—not just by Lent, but by everything happening around us. The world feels loud, unstable, and often frightening, and it’s easy to wonder where God is in all of it.
Today the Church lifts up the Cross as a reminder that God is not distant from our pain; He stepped right into it. The Cross shows us a love strong enough to enter suffering and transform it from the inside out. At the midpoint of Lent, this isn’t just a symbol—it’s a promise that darkness never gets the final word. When we look at the Cross, we see courage, endurance, and a hope that refuses to die, even when everything seems broken. It tells us that our efforts matter, our prayers matter, and our love (however small) pushes back against the chaos of the world.
As we leave the liturgy today, let’s carry the Cross as our strength and our mission. Let it move us to be people of peace, compassion, and bold hope in a world that desperately needs it. #HolyCross #Lent #ThirdSunday
