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Posture and the Jesus Prayer




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Which Commandments Should We Obey?




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Is there a connection between eating animal products and the passions?




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What are the causes of self-love and how can we protect our children?




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The Inner Person in the Orthodox Tradition: Healing the Soul through God's Grace and Aceticism




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Understanding Evil in the Orthodox Tradition




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Metanoia, Mission, and Martyrdom

Sermon on the Feast of Sts Peter and Paul (2 Corinthians 11:21-12:9; Matthew 16:13-19)




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Ten Thousand Lifetimes

Sermon on the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (I Corinthians 9:2-12; Matthew 18:23-35)




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Outward Appearances and Inward Realities

Sermon on the Sunday Before the Elevation of the Cross (Galatians 6:11-18; John 3:13-17)




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Enduring Tests and Facing Temptations (Mt 14:22-34)

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost




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Standing Firm as a Community of Faith (1 Cor 16:13-24)

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost




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The Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man (Luke 16:19-31)

Sermon on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost




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The Healing of Jairus' Daughter and the Woman with the Flow of Blood (Luke 8:41-56)

Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost




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Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee (Luke 18:10-14)

Beginning of the Lenten Triodion




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Devotion, Persistence, Endurance and Courage (Mark 15:43-16:8)

Holy Myrrhbearers - Third Sunday of Pascha




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The Supremacy of Christ and the Cross (John 3:13-17)

Even though we live in a pluraistic society, Orthodox Christians must uphold the uniqueness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Fr Tom teaches us that Christ and the Cross are not simply one way to the Father, but the only way. (Sunday before the Elevation of the Precious Cross)




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Lazarus and the Rich Man (Luke 16:19-31)

We are partakers of the rich mercies and blessings that God has liberally poured out upon our lives. Fr Tom reminds us that all of our blessings, both spiritual and material, are meant to be freely given to others, just as they have been given to us. (Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost)




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Forgiveness and the Great Fast (Matthew 6:14-21)

On the day before the beginning of Great Lent, the Church teaches us that our journey of repentance begins with offering forgiveness. Fr Tom reminds us that forgiveness is the essential action to grow in the likeness of God, because it is what He freely offers to us. (Forty-first Sunday after Pentecost - Forgiveness Sunday)




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The Kingdom of God Here and Now (John 20:19-31)

Eight days after the Lord's Resurrection, Jesus appeard to Thomas in His glorified body, manifesting the power of God's Kingdom. Fr Tom reminds us that the Lord grants us His Kingdom, here and now, and we recieve it when we are faithful. (Second Sunday of Pascha)




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The Union of Heaven and Earth (John 17:1-13)

The eternal Word ascends to Heaven in His resurrected body, receiving the glory He had with His Father before the world began. Fr Tom reminds us that Christ does all this so that He can share this heavenly life with us. (Sunday after the Ascension)




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God Sees the Heart (Luke 18:10-14) Publican and Pharisee

As we begin preparing our hearts for the annual Lenten journey, the Church presents us with the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee. Fr Tom reminds us that fulfilling God's commandments should not be a cause for pride, because humility teaches us that we are only doing our duty to Him as unprofitable servants.




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Judgment and Reward (Mt 25:31-46) Last Judgment

On the third preparatory Sunday before Great Lent, the gospel of the Last Judgment is read. Fr Tom reminds us that though today we can choose to acknowledge or to ignore Christ as Lord, on that great and final day everyone will acknowledge Him and give an account of their life.




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Saintly Missions, Methods, and Matters (Mt 4:18-23)

On the second Sunday after Pentecost, the Orthodox Church celebrates local Saints of a particular land. Fr Thomas reminds us that Saints teach us in their way of life that they are devoted to accomplish a divine mission, that they have become holy through their practice of the Orthodox way of prayer, and most importantly, that they love God above all else. (Second Sunday after Pentecost - All Saints of North America)




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The Easy Yoke and Light Burden (Mark 8:34-9:1)

The cross of Christ is the ultimate sign of God's love for his creatures. Fr Thomas reminds us that the cross is also a sign of the path that awaits us: our own cross. (Sunday after the Exaltation of the Cross)




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The Dread and Joyous Return of Christ (Mt 25:31-46)

In order to further prepare our thoughts for the coming of Great Lent, the Church presents us with our Lord's description of His return in glory. Fr Thomas reminds us that the Last and Final Day is both terrifying and awesome, dread and joyful, as we prepare now in this life for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Sunday of the Last Judgment)




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Wealth is Not a Sin and Poverty is Not a Virtue (Luke 16:19-31)

The parable of the Lazarus and the Rich Man is a story rich with lessons about life and about death. Fr Thomas focuses on the implications of living with unprecedented wealth in our modern society.




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Saints and the Rise of the “Dones” (Mt 10:32-33,37-38,19:27-30)

On the Sunday of All Saints, the gospel reading reminds us of the narrow way of being a disciple of Christ. Fr Thomas powerfully contrasts the imperatives in Christ's teaching on discipleship with the contemporary rise of the "Dones," those who illogically proclaim themselves faithful to Christ but "done with church."




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The Authority of Caesar and the Authority of God

In light of recent events regarding the racist slaying of African-American Christians and the Supreme Court ruling on so-called "same-sex marriage," Fr Thomas delivers a stirring and challenging message from the scriptures asking, "Who is your authority?"




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The True Christ and the True Faith (Jn 17:1-13)

Cutting through the din of religious pluralism, Fr Thomas reminds us that the Orthodox Faith uniquely gives us everything for life, faith, and spiritual understanding.




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Race Relations and the Gospel (Rom 5:1-10)

In light of the national unrest after numerous shootings of black men during police stops, followed by the ambush shooting of over a dozen police in Dallas where five died, Fr Thomas uses the providential lectionary readings of the following Sunday to illustrate how to seek peace with other people, and the importance of casting off anxiety to put our trust in God.




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Thanksgiving Thursday and Black Friday

The most endearing secular holiday in the American calendar is Thanksgiving Day. It was set aside by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father." Later, the modern culture invented Black Friday, driving consumers to the stores in a buying frenzy. Fr Thomas reminds us that "covetousness is idolatry" (Col 3:5), that everything we have belongs to God, and should be used for His glory.




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Encountering Christ in the Scriptures and the Eucharist

On the Sunday of St Thomas, we hear of the encounter of the Apostle with the risen Christ. Fr Thomas teaches us that we too must make every effort to encounter the resurrected Christ both in the Holy Scriptures and in the Eucharist.




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Renewing Creation and Renewing Your Parish

On the Sunday after Theophany, the reading from the Apostle teaches us that there is a close relationship between Christ's filling all of creation with Himself and the gifts that He bestows on us. Fr Thomas reminds us that those gifts need to be discerned and exercised to continue the work of renewal in the world and in our parishes.




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Your Purpose and God's Power

When we hear about the miracles that Christ performed for people, it can seem distant. Fr Thomas reminds us that the grace they received is the same life-giving power that we are granted in the Eucharist: the fullness of Christ.




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Christmas and the Fullness of Time

In the incarnation, God demonstrates His love for man, not only by sending His Son, but by uniting His Divinity to humanity.




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The Gospel and Culture

On the Sunday after Theophany, the scripture readings teach us that the light of Christ shines in the darkest corners of the world. Fr Thomas reminds us that the Gospel is not simply for one culture, but for all people everywhere.




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Wonderers, Wishers, and Worshippers

At Christ's entry into Jerusalem, there were those who were wondering how they could be rid of Him, those who were wishing He would be a social activist, and those who worshipped Him as the Son of the Living God. Today is no exception.




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Orthodoxy, Truth, and World Religions (Jn 1:43-51)

On the first Sunday of Lent, we celebrate the triumph of Orthodoxy over the icon smashers. Fr Thomas gives us some straight talk about the Orthodox Christian faith, the nature of truth, and our relationship with world religions. (Sunday of Orthodoxy)




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Universalism and Other Pernicious Heresies

On the Pre-Lenten Sunday of the Final Judgment, Fr Thomas speaks out against the false teachings of universalism, millenarianism, and the doubted return of Christ.




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Great Lent and the Meaning of Perfection

Fr Thomas encourages the faithful by outlining the goals of Great Lent in the disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.




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Growing in Faith (during the Pandemic)

How can we remain peaceful during the Pandemic? Fr Thomas presents the practical teachings of St Paul and the Lord Jesus Christ to give us perspective about how to actually grow in faithfulness during times of trouble.




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The Greatest Commandment & The Cross

How do we love God with all of our heart, with all of our mind, and with all of our soul? Fr. Tom shows us that Cross serves as the paragon example of fulfilling the greatest commandment of our Lord.




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The Messenger, The Messiah, and The Manifestation.

Leading into the feast of Theophany, Fr. Tom calls to remembrance the Forerunner and how he points us to repentance in order to see clearly our Savior in the Holy Trinity.




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What Membership Demands

Exhorting us from the Parable of the Talents, Fr. Tom reminds us that - as true members - we must use our gifts to build up the Body of Christ.




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The Reality of Worshiping in Spirit and in Truth

Lest we forget the cosmic realities of our Orthodox worship, Fr. Tom unpacks the reading of the Samaritan Woman in order to remind us that worship in spirit and in truth is not bound to space or time, and includes - not least of all - personal sacrifice.




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Encounters That Demand Answers

Fr. Tom meditates on how encounters with Christ and His miracles - both today and in the Scriptures - elicit opposite responses. We see some who accept them and some who deny them in the most vicious ways. What will your response be?




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We Are Spiritual AND Religious

Listen as Fr. Tom reminds us that, to fully worship God, we need both our souls and our bodies.




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Come and See

In this back-to-basics message, Fr. Tom reminds us that the real triumph of Orthodoxy begins with being a true follower of Christ.




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Victory, Value, and Volition

Listen as Fr. Tom shows the many facets of what Palm Sunday means for us who seek to put Christ first.




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Pandemonium

In this time of chaos and pandemonium, to what - and to whom - will we turn for truth and guidance? The news? Politicians? YouTube? Listen as Fr. Tom calls us back to the Word of God.