December 06, 2020

Weightier Matters First
Sunday Sermon

- Fr. Ernesto Obregon -


Today on the 10th Sunday of Luke the Gospel lesson comes to us from Luke 13:17-21. In this pericope a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years is healed by Jesus in the synagogue on the sabbath. This healing on the sabbath makes the ruler of the synagogue indignant because he does not know the weightier matters of the law. Father Ernesto shares with us how today’s lesson is the exclamation point to the Gospels on the three previous Sundays. Love of neighbor is one of the highest priorities in the Christian life and is second only to the love of God. We do not know God until we serve our neighbor and we do not serve our neighbor until we know God. Jesus heals the woman to give both the ruler of the synagogue and us an example of how we ought to serve those in need. We as Orthodox Christians should examine our priorities and see if we serve others through practical expressions of love and therefore regard the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faith. 



The Rev. Fr. Ernesto M. Obregón was born in Cuba, sent to the USA as a refugee child and grew up in north-central Ohio. He was drafted during the Viet Nam era and served

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Photography Credits: Beth Hontzas - Music: Presbytera Katerina Makiej





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The Rev. Fr. Ernesto M. Obregón was born in Cuba, sent to the USA as a refugee child and grew up in north-central Ohio. He was drafted during the Viet Nam era and served in the Army as a Medical Laboratory Specialist. After discharge, he finished his Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology at Kent State University (KSU), a Master of Arts in New Testament and Theology at Ashland Theological Seminary (ATS), and a Master of Arts in Philosophy at Cleveland State University (CSU). He met his wife of over 40 years, Presvytera Denise, at KSU. They and their children served as missionaries in Bolivia and Perú for 10 years, 1990-2000, where Fr. Ernesto was ordained as an Anglican priest. Upon their return, Fr. Ernesto served as the Hispanic Missioner for the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. In 2004, Fr. & Presvy. converted to Orthodoxy. Fr. Ernesto was ordained an Orthodox priest in 2007, and served a mission parish in Melbourne FL from 2007-2010. Fr. Ernesto returned to Birmingham in 2010, and worked at the VA hospitals in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa until his retirement. During this time period he finished a Master of Science in Management from the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). During that time he was, and continues to be, attached to this parish.