Today, the Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross, we read about the Cross in both the Gospel and Epistle readings. In the Gospel, Christ tells us that if we wish to follow him, we must take up our cross, we must deny ourselves. St. Paul elaborates on this in the Epistle reading, saying “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”

In his sermon, Fr. Gregory focuses on the importance of denying ourselves and how the practice is backed by modern science. He explains that, in our culture today, we are steeped in dopamine, the pleasure-seeking brain chemical. We have instant, constant access to dopamine hits through such things as smartphones. This leads to a dopamine addiction, which the church has identified as ‘passions.’ These passions are disordered, unruly desires that lead to a cycle of anxiety and depression.

Scientists have identified ways to combat this cycle, including delayed gratification and radical honesty. The church agrees with this solution, offering the traditions of fasting and confession. Through these practices, we can control our passions, and our self-sabotaging habits. This way, Christ may live in us and we can experience the true joy of following him.