Fr. Philip LeMasters describes the way in which the Holy Ascension of our Lord provides the way for us to be raised up from the tomb and into heavenly glory.

Fr. Philip LeMasters explains the significance of the sending of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church.

Fr. Philip LeMasters reflects on the nativity of St. John the Baptist and it's meaning for us today.

Fr. Philip LeMasters addresses the healing of our souls in light of the Saints like Sts. Cosmas and Damian the Holy Unmercenaries.

Fr. Philip LeMasters calls us to live as the reflection of the One who is 'Light of the World.'

Fr. Philip LeMasters draws together the meaning of the Transfiguration of Christ and the Dormition of the Theotokos for our participation in the healing of our corrupt humanity.

Fr. Philip LeMasters calls us to a life of humility, that goes beyond a prideful legalism, leading to the healing of our souls.

Fr. Philip LeMasters reflects on the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos.

Fr. Philip LeMasters calls us to take up our cross and walk the way of the cross of Christ.

Fr. Philip LeMasters shares the story of the conception of St. John the Baptist, and how the troubles of our lives provide us with an additional opportunity to walk by faith.

Fr. Philip LeMasters recounts the story of the healing of the widow of Nain, and calls all of us turn to the Lord for the healing of our souls.

Fr. Philip LeMasters teaches us how to gain the spiritual clarity that we need to bear good fruit.

Fr. Philip LeMasters reflects on the struggle to believe when the circumstances we face seem overwhelming, growing in faith into the image of Christ.

Fr. Philip LeMasters addresses the violence in our world today by reflecting on the call to love our neighbor in the story of Lazarus.

Fr. Philip LeMasters helps us apply the meaning of the parable of The Rich Fool as we enter the Nativity Fast.

Fr. Philip LeMasters calls us to reflect upon the fulfillment of the promises to the descendants of Abraham in Jesus Christ.

Fr. Philip LeMasters recounts the Christmas story that is for all humanity.

Fr. Philip LeMasters explains our connection with the ancestors of Jesus.

Fr. Philip LeMasters asks, "Can physical things, including our bodies, become holy?"

Fr. Philip LeMasters calls us to offer our lives in service of the Kingdom of God.

Fr. Philip LeMasters reminds us of the purpose of the Great Fast on the Sunday of Forgiveness.

Fr. Philip LeMasters introduces the significance of the Sunday of Orthodoxy and the restoration of the Holy Icons.

Fr. Philip LeMasters reflects on faith and doubt and our need for spiritual clarity regarding our own unbelief, on the Fourth Sunday of Lent.

Fr. Philip LeMasters invites us to embrace humility, as did St. Mary of Egypt who became a model of sanctity through the healing of her soul.

Fr. Philip LeMasters explains the impact of the resurrection of Christ through the story of the Samaritan Woman.

Fr. Philip LeMasters preaches on the Gospel reading of the healing of the Blind Man.

Fr. Philip LeMasters reflects upon the significance of the ascension of Jesus into the fullness of the Kingdom of God.

Fr. Philip LeMasters preaches on the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Fr. Philip LeMasters shares the importance of becoming saints in the Orthodox Church.

Fr. Philip LeMasters preaches on the example of the twelve holy apostles who sacrificed all for the sake of following Jesus.

Fr. Philip LeMasters reflects on the Feasts of the Transfiguration of our Lord and the Dormition of the Theotokos.

Fr. Philip LeMasters gives a homily on the Gospel reading on the feeding of the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish.

Fr. Philip LeMasters shares a homily based on this Sunday's Epistle and Gospel readings, reminding us to follow St. Paul's humble obedience to the way of Christ.

Fr. Philip LeMasters speaks about our God-given purpose in life on the Feast Day of the Nativity of the Theotokos.

Fr. Philip LeMasters speaks about the importance of the Cross.

Fr. Philip LeMasters shares the story of the raising of the son of the widow of Nain. The Savior has conquered death and shares His great victory with those who respond to Him with humble faith and repentance.

Fr. Philip LeMasters reminds us to keep our attention on Christ.

It is sobering how easily we can corrupt any good thing, including faith in Jesus Christ. Some people fall into the delusion of thinking that they love God and neighbor, when in reality they serve only themselves. One symptom of doing so is to narrow down the kind of people who count as our neighbors such that we excuse ourselves from seeing and serving Christ in all who bear His image and likeness. When we do so, we disregard not only them, but our Lord Himself. Our actions then reveal that we do not truly have faith in Him because we are only seeking to justify ourselves.

We have all had experiences in which we have learned uncomfortable truths about ourselves. When that happens, we have a choice about what to do next. It is possible to recognize a weakness or failing and then to do what we can to overcome it. Too often, however, we give up hope and fall into despair due to our hurt pride. That is precisely what the man in today’s gospel lesson did when Jesus Christ gave him a commandment that he lacked the strength to obey: “Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

Christ came to restore sight to the blind beggars of the world. Let us embrace the disciplines and spirit of the Nativity Fast in ways that will help us see that that is precisely who we are. Let us acquire the humility necessary to receive and share the peace that He was born to bring to the world. That is how we must all prepare to welcome Him into our hearts and lives at Christmas.

We are all bent over and crippled in profound ways in relation to the Lord, our neighbors, and even ourselves. The good news of Christmas is that the Savior is born to set us free from captivity to decay, corruption, and weakness.

In today’s gospel lesson, there were people so used to focusing on their daily routines and worldly responsibilities that they had lost the ability to recognize something new and joyful. One owned real estate, another had animals, and a third was married. Even though these are commonplace conditions, they used them to justify their refusal to accept the invitation to the great party. No one forced them to do so; instead, they excused themselves. As a result, the master commanded his servant to “Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.” Because there was still room, the master ordered him to go out even further to “the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.”

The Lord’s genealogy in St. Matthew’s gospel traces the Savior’s human ancestry back through many generations to Abraham. The story of the ancestors of Christ, who helped to prepare the way across the centuries for the incarnation of the God-Man, certainly does not read like a Facebook posting. The Old Testament presents them realistically as unlikely members of His family tree.

At Theophany, we celebrate that no dimension of our life or world is intrinsically profane or cut off from sharing in the holiness of God. All things, physical and spiritual, visible and invisible, are called to participate in the divine glory that our Lord has brought to the world, to become even now signs of the coming fullness of God’s Kingdom.

Let us get over our pride and become living epiphanies of the salvation of the One Who was baptized by St. John the Forerunner in the Jordan.

Given what we do know about the divine mercy we have received, gratitude must become an abiding characteristic of our lives. That means that we must become like the Samaritan leper in today’s gospel reading.

If we want to approach Lent in a spiritually healthy way that will enable us to participate already in life eternal, we too must offer up ourselves.

In preparing for Great Lent this year, we must remain on guard against the temptation of self-exaltation in any form.

As we begin our Lenten journey, we remember today how Adam and Eve stripped themselves naked of the divine glory and were cast out of Paradise into a world enslaved by death. During Great Lent, we follow the path that leads back to Paradise.

On this second Sunday of Great Lent, we commemorate St. Gregory Palamas, who defended the experience of monks who, in the stillness of prayer from their hearts, saw the Uncreated Light of God.