Fourth Sunday of the Great Fast

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

As Christians, we have been entrusted with the Kingdom of God. But this great gift comes with a responsibility. Fr Tom explains that the parable of the Vinedressers is God's warning to us to fulfill our essential mission to grow the Church. (Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

Our God is not a benign spirit in the sky. Our God is the God Who reaches out to us in our sinfulness. Fr Tom teaches us that we are called to have a life-changing encounter with the God Who snatches us from the grip of sin and death. (Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost)

While the story of the Good Samaritan can inspire us to do good works, Fr Tom reminds us that ultimately the parable points to something much greater: Our salvation. (Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost)

The Creed which we profess states that God created things "visible and invisible." Fr Tom reminds us that there is an invisible warfare constantly being waged on us, and we must be prepared by putting on the whole armor of God.

The Gospel contains both words of comfort and words of challenge and warning. Fr Tom reminds us not to make the mistake of listening only to messages which comfort us, but to live up to the words that challenge our faith to continue on the difficult way of Christ. (Thirty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost)

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 Church is the community where Christ has established peace among all people. Fr Tom reminds us that we should live in that mercy and peace with everyone we encounter. (Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost)

Jesus is given various titles in the New Testament: Teacher, Master, Lord and others. Fr Tom reminds us that, as Orthodox Christians, we must strive to approach God for not only who He really is, but who we really are too. (Thirty-first Sunday after Pentecost)

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.

The parable of the Prodigal Son is a powerful image of our returning to God and the Father's rich mercy in restoring us. Fr Tom reminds us that we must be able both to admit that we have separated ourselves from God's life and have the deep desire to return to the riches of His Kingdom.

At the foundation of our life as Christians, we are given the gift of new life in baptism. Fr Tom reminds us that this baptism is given to us not to escape the crosses and illnesses of this life, but rather so that we can endure them.

Though we have the revelation of the one God in Christ, people the world over are free to believe in the god of their choosing, or no god at all. Fr Tom reminds us that as Orthodox Christians, though we firmly believe in the right to religious freedom, we must always assert to everyone the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ, because what we believe about God matters. (Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council)

On the Sunday after Pentecost we celebrate the life of the Holy Spirit in all those who have become sanctified by God's Grace. Fr Tom reminds us that all Christians are called to be holy, as he expounds on the teachings of our Lord to His disciples.

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)

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)

God uses even the difficult circumstances of our life for our salvation. Fr Tom reminds us that in these tests of life, God wants us to persevere and draw closer to Him. (Thirty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost)

The Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee is presented to us by the church to set the tone in our preparation for Great Lent. Fr Tom reminds us that both our actions and our attitude counts when it comes to loving God and neighbor. (Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee)

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 healing of the paralytic is a wonderful gospel scene rich with meaning for us. Fr Tom reminds us that God demonstrates His power when formerly "paralyzed" lives are healed and transformed to become living testimonies to the truth of Christ.

Our Lord taught his disciples to put away anxiety about life and instead trust in God. Fr Thomas reminds us that by seeing life through the teachings of Christ, even the difficulties and tribulations of life will build us up to be stronger followers of Him. (Third Sunday after Pentecost)

The parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man is a dramatic illustration of the importance of being merciful to those in need. Fr Thomas reminds us that the torment experienced by the Rich Man is a result of his choice to ignore Lazarus laying at his gate. (Seventeenth 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)

Though oftentimes it seems God is silent and does not hear our prayers, Fr Thomas reminds us that God is always reaching out to us and uses the circumstances of our life to draw us closer to Him. (Thirty-first Sunday after Pentecost)

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)

In the story of the Samaritan Woman at Jacob's Well, Jesus has a life-changing conversation with her. Fr Thomas reminds us that each one of us needs to have this conversation with God, which can ultimately lead us to put Him first above all things. (Fifth Sunday of Pascha)

In the healing of the man born blind, Jesus heals not only his blindness, but also his spiritual understanding. Fr Thomas reminds us that just as the man born blind came to a fuller revelation of who Jesus was, we too must also allow the mercy and grace of God to heal us in order to experience Him in a deeper way. (Sunday of the Blind Man)

The two great commandments of loving God and neighbor are presented by Christ as the focus of all the Law and Prophets. Fr Thomas reminds us that in fulfilling these commands, we grow in God's likeness, accomplishing our original purpose. (15th Sunday after Pentecost/Leavetaking of the Exaltation of the Cross)

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)

Being a believer in Christ is more than just assenting to doctrines about God. In a stirring homily, Fr Thomas reminds us that it's not "what the gospel means to me" that's important, it's how we apply the true meaning of the gospel in our life that helps us to grow in the likeness of God. (Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost)

In the wake of the Roman Catholic Papal visit to the US, Pope Francis received much adulation for his message of inclusiveness. Fr Thomas reminds us that while the gospel calls us to love all people, we're also called to love a holy God who separates us from the world of sin and leads us to a transformed life.

The image of Christianity is being sullied by TV preachers who justify their desire for riches under the guise of a distorted piety. Hence, prayer, which allows us to ask God for good things, is instead cheapened to demand things which are self-serving. Fr Thomas teaches us the riches of prayer mined from the story of the healing of blind Bartimeaus.

Jesus's question to the paralytic, "Do you want to be made well?" is at the heart of our Christian life. Fr Thomas explains the important doctrine of synergy, or cooperation with God, as the key to our daily growth in life, faith, and spiritual understanding.

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.

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.

The role of God in suffering has long been questioned: trials, tribulations, wars, sickness, death - Where is God? Why would He allow it? Fr Thomas reminds us that, though God is not the author of these things, He teaches us to endure them to draw us closer to Him. (Mt 14:22-34)

In an age when people are cynically feeling distant from (the concept of) God, it is important to be reminded that God is nearer than our very breath. Citing the gospel story of the great catch of fish, Fr Thomas teaches us concerning the assurance of the living God in our lives and the abundant life He promises.

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.

In the powerful parable of the Great Banquet, Jesus teaches us about the eternal Kingdom of God that awaits those who follow Him. Fr Thomas reminds us that we are given a foretaste of this glorious union with God through the reception of the Holy Eucharist. (Luke 14:16-24)

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.

When we hear the story of the Prodigal Son, our focus is often on the actions of the son in his return to the father. Fr Thomas emphasizes from the same story, that we can also learn much about the nature of God, how He is eager to forgive us with abundant mercy, and how He wants everyone in the community to share in His joy. (Luke 15:11-32)

The parable of the Publican and the Pharisee is the first of several pre-Lenten Sunday gospel readings to prepare our hearts for Great Lent. Fr Thomas reminds us that humility is the chief virtue because God Himself, the creator of all things, is humble. (Luke 18:10-14)

In a pluralistic society, the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, that He is the way, the truth, and the life, can become a casualty, even in the minds of Christians. Fr Thomas reminds us of the uniqueness of the Christian message: that the only way to peace with God is through faith in Christ. (This episode of our podcast introduces a new format, interspersing the thoughts and comments of faithful parishioners. We hope you enjoy it!)

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!"

The Parable of the Great Banquet is read to prepare us to celebrate the Nativity of Christ. Fr Thomas weaves the epistle and gospel for the Sunday to inspire and direct us toward closer communion with God Himself by accepting the invitation that God gives to us week after week.

On Christmas Eve, Fr Thomas reminds us that Christ came as a human to restore the image of God in us and show us how to become what we were always meant to be.

On the feast of Theophany, the baptism of Christ, Fr Thomas teaches on the Orthodox understanding of the Holy Trinity.