Zacchaeus and the Two Trees - Choosing the Cross of Christ

In this powerful sermon, Fr. Paul Girguis unpacks the story of Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector, and challenges us to reflect on the “tree” we must climb to see Jesus. Zacchaeus reached the end of himself—his wealth, power, and sinful pleasures left him empty—so he humbled himself and climbed a tree to encounter Christ.
Fr. Paul reminds us that there are always two trees before us:
The Cross of Christ – the place of love, forgiveness, and transformation.
Our own cross – the hardships and trials God allows to purify us and draw us closer to Him.
Will the Cross of Christ be enough for you, or will you need to be brought to your own tree of suffering before you surrender to Him? This message invites us to humility, repentance, and a deeper love for the Savior who says, “Today salvation has come to this house.”
📖 Key Scriptures:
Luke 19:1–10 (The story of Zacchaeus)
Acts 14:22 (“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”)
Matthew 16:24 (“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”)
Keywords: Zacchaeus sermon, Fr Paul Girguis, Coptic Orthodox sermon, choosing the cross, cross of Christ, repentance, salvation, humility, Zacchaeus tree, Christian suffering, transformation, Orthodox preaching
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