In the gospel reading for the second Sunday of Great Lent, Christ heals a man of debilitating paralysis. But Fr Tom reminds us that Jesus reveals something even more important, that He forgives sins as the eternal Son of God. (Second Sunday of Great Lent - Healing of the Paralytic)

On the Third Sunday of the Great Fast, the Church places the precious cross of our Lord in the midst of the temple for our veneration and contemplation. Fr Tom reminds us that the scriptures present the cross as a sign both of comfort and of judgment, encouraging us to fulfill the Lenten effort to take up our cross and follow Christ. (Veneration of the Precious Cross)

On the feast of feasts we celebrate the glorious resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Fr Tom reminds us that our joy on this uniquely singular day also comes from the hope that God Who began this marvellous work in His Son will also complete it in us. (The Holy Pascha)

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)

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)

Anyone can do a good deed, but Fr. Tom reminds us that truly godly works are motivated by a faith in Christ which leads to salvation. (Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost)

The parable of the Good Samaritan is among the most beloved of all stories in scripture. Fr Tom reminds us that showing mercy to those who have fallen into the ravages of sin is essential to their healing. (Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost)

On the feast of the Nativity of Christ, we celebrate the eternal Word of God taking on Human flesh and identifying with our humanity. Fr Tom reminds us that we also celebrate being adopted by God into His family as true children of God. (The Nativity of Christ)

The feast of the Circumcision of Christ stands as a bridge between the old and new covenants. As we begin the new year, Fr Tom reminds us that we should resolve to fulfill the "Circumcision of Christ," our baptism. (Sunday before the Theophany)

On the feast of the Annunciation to the Mother of God, we celebrate the good news that Jesus takes on human flesh from the womb of the Virgin Mary. In Mary's faithfulness, she becomes the icon of all believers who strive to live life in total obedience to God.

Today's cultural values can sometimes keep us from fully embracing important scriptural concepts like being the subject of a 'kingdom' or becoming a 'slave' to righteousness. Fr Tom reminds us that, in order to conform to the image of Christ, we must recognize ourselves as being slaves of God and servants of men. (Fourth Sunday after Pentecost)

As the Church prepares us to celebrate the Elevation of the Precious Cross, Fr Tom reminds us that the Cross is the sign and reminder of the firm, unchanging truths found in the the person of Christ. (Sunday Before the Elevation of the Precious Cross)

A temptation for some Orthodox Christians is to take in the beauty of the church services while remaining somewhat mentally disengaged. Fr Tom reminds us that Christ's command to "launch out into the deep" is given to everyone to plumb the depths of the wisdom and word of God. (Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

The Parable of Lazarus and the Rich man is a dramatic story about the end result of a selfish life. Fr Tom reminds us that our most fundamental call as Christians is, not only to love God, but also to love our neighbor. (Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost)

In the parable of the Rich Fool, Christ warns us of the dangers of acquiring too many material possessions. Fr Tom reminds us that our life should always maintain an eternal perspective, focusing on love of God and of neighbor. (Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost)

The parable of the talents can be perplexing to understand if we see the Master's demands as unreasonable and unfair. Fr Tom reminds us that God has given every believer certain abilities to build up the church. But more importantly, He gives everyone the ability to love. (Thirty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost)

The awesome day of the Lord's return in glory to judge the earth is presented powerfully by the words of the Lord Himself. Fr Tom reminds us that we will experience the mercy and truth of God's presence as the ultimate judgment of how we've lived His command to love God and neighbor.

The Orthodox Faith is rich with tradition and discipline, but sometimes we can seem disinterested in being faithful to it all in our lives. Fr Thomas reminds us that obedience done out of love for God and each other is the "linchpin" which holds it all together. (13th Sunday after Pentecost)

The American religious scene is full of false teachers preaching a "gospel" that is focused solely on making people feel good about themselves. Fr Thomas reminds us that the truth of Christ promises us God's comfort in suffering, not the absence of suffering in this world. (Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

The parable of the soils sets the tone for other parables taught by our Lord. Fr. Thomas reminds us that this parable brilliantly expresses the importance of both hearing and actively receiving the Word of God in us. (Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

Technology has become so pervasive that many people are now enslaved to their smartphones, constantly looking down into them! Fr. Thomas reminds us that, like the woman bent over with a spirit of infirmity, the Lord heals us so that we can look up to see the gift of life in Christ. (22nd Sunday after Pentecost)

The Parable of the Publican and Pharisee is the Church's herald to prepare for Great Lent. To begin, Fr Thomas presents three important principles to bear in mind when approaching God in prayer. (Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee)

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)

Lent is a time of great anticipation as we move toward the celebration of Christ's holy Pascha. But Fr Thomas reminds us that it is also a preparation for our entire Christian life, where we face the challenges of increased prayer, fasting and almsgiving and in turn, learn much about our true selves. (Forgiveness Sunday)

At the mid-point of Great Lent, the church brings out the precious cross in our midst for veneration. Fr Thomas reminds us that the cross is more than just a lifeless symbol, it's the very path of our salvation. (Third Sunday of Lent)

While discerning the will of God for us is an important aspect of our life, Fr Thomas reminds us that becoming a humble servant of all in every situation will ensure that we are always doing His will. (Fifth Sunday of Great Lent)

We can often take membership in the church for granted, wrongfully thinking it's just another organization. Fr Thomas reminds us that our calling is not just to be a member, but a disciple, a follower of Christ. (Second Sunday after Pentecost)

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."

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?"

In the press and popular culture we're hearing more and more that the God of the Christians is "too demanding" and "angry" and often point to scriptures such as this parable of the Unforgiving Servant to make their point. Fr Thomas reminds us that to have a true understanding of Who God really is, we have to reject the god which people sometimes create in their own image and likeness. (Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost)

The parable of the talents can sometimes seem unfair. Why have some been given more than others? Fr Thomas relates this parable to the contemporary decline in religious faith and reminds us that, today, our cross is to take up the gift of faith and grow it. (Sunday after the Elevation of the Precious Cross)

It is an inescapable fact that suffering is a part of the fallen human condition. In a powerful message, Fr Thomas describes three important principles to help us form our perspective on suffering.

In the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man, Jesus dramatically demonstrates the reward for greed and selfishness. Fr Thomas reminds us that helping the poor is not only a matter of money, it's a matter of love. (Luke 16:19-31)

On the Feast of the Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple, Fr Thomas preached a sermon on the significance of the feast for the hundreds gathered to venerate the Myrrh-Gushing Icon of St Anna at Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Ellwood City, PA.

In a special Christmas edition of Sermons at St Nicholas, Fr Thomas reminds us of the cosmic significance of the birth of Christ. Because God the Father sends His Son to us, the world will never be the same!

At the feast of Theophany, the Baptism of Christ, we celebrate much more than a historic event. Fr Thomas teaches us that we participate in the beginning of the re-creation of the world by God in Christ through the Holy Spirit.

As we continue the celebration of Theophany, the baptism of Christ, the Church turns our attention to the grace which is given to us "according to the measure of Christ's gift." Fr Thomas teaches us that Christ fills the universe with Himself so that we also can be by grace what He is by nature.

Christ crossed over a border to hear the pleas of the Canaanite woman and heal her daughter. But more than a story about a healing, Fr Thomas delivers an important lesson about the makeup of the Church that every parish and every parishioner needs to hear: The Church isn't just for your kind of people.

The Christian life is surely a paradox. Our Lord teaches those who love Him that if they want to be exalted, they must be humble; if they want to be great, they must be a servant. Fr Thomas leads us into Holy Week by telling us that the Lord Jesus Christ not only teaches this paradox, but He lives it, and by so doing, He wins our salvation.

Modern western societies are experiencing decreasing interest in attending church. Even some Orthodox Christian families are succumbing to secular activities on Sunday morning instead of gathering together as God's People in the church. Using the story of St Thomas' encounter with Christ eight days after His Resurrection, Fr Thomas teaches why coming to church is so important, and reminds us that, if we miss church, we miss a lot!

We can sometimes take the blessings we receive and miracles we read about in the New Testament for granted. The reading about the healing of the blind man is one such event, because the Lord didn't simply heal his sight, He actually created eyes for the man! Fr Thomas teaches us that the health of our sight is measured by what we're willing to see regarding the love and works of God.

Today it's fashionable in some circles to sanction any "lifestyle" under the rubric of humanity being "created in the image of God." Fr Thomas teaches us what bearing the image of God implies for every human person, and why the gospel is at the heart of it.

Recent news has reported that, in the US, church attendance is down, in direct relation to the social changes sweeping the country. Fr Thomas teaches us that when the winds of change blow, the most important thing we can do is assess our own commitment to faith in Christ by checking for spiritual blindness.

The first parable that Jesus taught is the beloved Parable of the Sower. Fr Thomas explains its place in the scripture and its crucial importance in our lives.

The feasts of the Nativity and Baptism of Christ are dramatic examples of the intersection of the spiritual and material in the life of humanity. Fr Thomas teaches us that we must acknowledge and experience this intersection to participate in God's recreation and renewal of the world.

The healing of blind Bartimaeus is is the last public healing Christ performs before His passion. Fr Thomas teaches us that this "last message" of Christ to the world is an important one even today: give up your stubborn willfulness and throw yourself into the mercy of God.

As we approach the Great Lenten period, Fr Thomas teaches us about the purpose of Lent and how to enter into it, restoring those things which have fallen away in our spiritual life.

Christ appeared to his apostles, and Thomas, eight days after his Holy Resurrection. Fr Thomas teaches us that we learn of the mystery of the Resurrection, the mystery of the Church, and the mystery of Faith, all in a single life-changing encounter.

On the Sunday of the Healing of the Paralytic, Fr Thomas took the opportunity to speak honestly and encouragingly to his congregation about what it is to be a healthy church. Using the gospel and epistle readings, he gently reminded them that we're called to be a house of mercy, intentionally Christian, and a place of good works and of love for one another.

The Parable of the Sower, also known as the Parable of the Soils, teaches us important lessons about how different people receive the Word of God. Fr Thomas reminds us that the ultimate lesson of this famous parable is, "Let us attend! Pay attention!"