Rich Toward God | Holy Trinity + Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral

“Greek Orthodox Christian Church - Birmingham, Alabama”

Photography Credits: Beth Hontzas - Music: Presbytera Katerina Makiej

- Fr. Gregory Edwards, Ph.D -

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.” Sacrificial giving atones for the sins of those we love and give in the memory of, as well as for ourselves. Second, we learn from the Wisdom of Ben Sirach that the wise person is gracious to the poor. God himself hears the cries of the poor and becomes their redeemer. We should be gracious to the poor as he is. Third, chapter 29 says that sacrificial giving becomes a spiritual treasury against evil and is likened to putting on the whole armor of God against the evil one. Fourth, the Wisdom of Ben Sirach, as well as Jesus in the New Testament, teaches us to give our tithe cheerfully.

In this way, we can be “rich toward God,” and follow Jesus’ example, who was wisdom personified, wisdom incarnate.

“Greek Orthodox Christian Church - Birmingham, Alabama”

Photography Credits: Beth Hontzas - Music: Presbytera Katerina Makiej

Sunday Morning Divine Liturgy - 9:30

307 19th Street South, Birmingham, Alabama 35233 | Fr. Gregory Edwards, Dean | 205.716.3080

The Rev. Fr. Gregory Edwards, Ph.D., was raised in Virginia and eastern Pennsylvania, and became a member of the Orthodox Church while studying for his Bachelor's degree in Religious Studies at Brown University. After completing a Master's Degree in the New Testament and early Christianity at Florida State University, he conducted doctoral studies in Greece at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, graduating summa cum laude in 2012. Ordained in 2007, he served parishes in Thessaloniki and Volos for 9 years. He and his wife Presvytera Pelagia lived in Greece from 2006-2016, where their four children were born. He has served as Assistant Professor of Missiology at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary in New York since 2014. Before coming to Birmingham in March 2019, Fr. Gregory served St. George Greek Orthodox Church in New Port Richey, FL from 2016-2019.