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)

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.

On the First Sunday of Great Lent, Fr Thomas teaches us that icons are not merely beautiful decorations, but rather absolutely necessary witnesses to the incarnation of Christ and the presence of the Kingdom of God.

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 third Sunday of Pascha, we hear of the courageous acts of both Joseph and Nicodemus, and the Myrrhbearing women. Fr Thomas reminds us that being a Christian in today's world takes courage. God does not force us to make the right choices and do the right things, but He does expect it of us—and for this we need courage.

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.

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!)

After Jesus taught the crowds about what faithfulness looks like in the Sermon on the Mount, they were amazed. Then a living example of great faith came to Jesus, and He was amazed! Fr Thomas unpacks the important story of the healing of the centurion's servant, and shows us a pattern of faithfulness to emulate.

St Paul bemoaned that his fellow Jews "have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge." Fr Thomas discusses the relationship between faith and the prevailing culture and how we can make a greater impact on society. The second half of the podcast features a conversation with Dr John Burgess of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary about the lessons we can learn from the Russian Orthodox Church regarding faith and culture.

Fr Thomas uses the stories of two different healings by Jesus (Mt 9:27-35) to demonstrate the importance of developing an interior life. After the sermon (at 20:00) Fr Thomas talks with three nuns from the Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration in Ellwood City, PA, about cultivating the interior life and the challenges and blessings of monasticism.

The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers comes at an important point in the life of Christ, only days before his crucifixion. Jesus reveals the Scribes and Pharisees to be those who rejected the message of the prophets, and now they're going to kill God's Son. Fr Thomas reminds us that, in our own day, those who reject the message and the messengers by choosing the world's lies about God and humanity over the truth we receive in the Church commit the same grave error. (Matthew 21:33-44)

One of the most challenging commands of the teachings of Christ is to love our enemies. Fr Thomas explains what it looks like and why it's so important.

The raising of the Widow of Nain's Son is a dramatic scene where the Power of Life confronts the reality of death. Fr Thomas reminds us that we experience this encounter every time we participate in the Divine Liturgy, entering into the presence of the One Who has victory over Hades and death. (Our apologies for the poor audio quality of this recording.)

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!"

St Paul's letter to the Galatians opens with an impassioned plea to those who once embraced the truth of the Gospel, to return to it. In our own day, numerous Christians are succumbing to the spirit of the age and compromising fundamental truths. Fr Thomas makes his own fervent plea not to accept any other Gospel but that which is given to us by the apostles and their successors. As a listener to the podcast wrote, "truth doesn't bow to feelings."

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.

When an Orthodox Christian is baptized, the priest proclaims, "you are justified!" But what does it mean to be righteous before God? Fr Thomas cites the readings of the Sunday, Ephesians 2 ("For by grace you have been saved through faith...") and the parable of the Good Samaritan, to outline the Orthodox understanding of our salvation in Christ.

Like the Good Samaritan, the scriptures give us yet another story about an exemplary Samaritan, among other so-called believers who failed to live up to their calling. Jesus heals ten lepers, but only the Samaritan returns to give thanks. Fr Thomas reminds us that we are continually being healed, and when we fail to give glory and thanks to the One who heals us, He says, "Where are you?"

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.

At the approach of the new year, the Church presents the example of Joseph and Mary taking the young child, Jesus, to Egypt, to protect Him and keep the promise they made to God. Fr Thomas encourages us also, to imitate their tenacious faith in keeping the promises of our baptism, no matter what challenge we face.

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

As the Church prepares us for the Great Lenten season by hearing the parable of the Last Judgment in Matthew 25, Fr Thomas reminds us that our preparation for that Great Day begins every time we prepare ourselves for the Eucharist. It is a fire that consumes the unworthy.

Fr Thomas gives a compelling case for the intense spiritual and physical efforts involved in observing Great Lent, beginning with the end in mind: the true significance of the Resurrection of Christ.

Fr Thomas shares a powerful message, correcting those who make themselves the measure of faith, and encouraging all of us to remember that Orthodox Christianity is the ideal we are striving for.

On the Sunday of the Cross in Great Lent, Fr Thomas teaches us that the power of God is found in the righteous actions required of us when we take up our own cross to follow Christ.

On the fourth Sunday of Lent, the Church presents the Gospel reading of the healing of the demon possessed boy, and we also commemorate St John of "The Ladder." Fr Thomas teaches us that, if we want to spiritually grow, we have to be able to accept God's difficult answers to our ultimate questions.

On the great feast of the Annunciation of the Mother of God, Fr Thomas reminds us that the message given by the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary is the very essence of the gospel message. This same message about the person of Jesus Christ also requires a response from us.

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.

On the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers, Fr Thomas reminds us that every Sunday, the Lord's Day, is set apart for us to sacrificially offer our time to worship the Risen Christ.

Fr Thomas shows us how the story of the Lord's conversion of the Samaritan Woman at the well is the pattern for telling others about the good news of Jesus Christ to make them true worshippers.

The healing of the blind man in John 9 is a dramatic story of the healing power of God. Fr Thomas teaches us that we also have been healed by virtue of our baptism and we should tell others the story of our recreation.

On the seventh Sunday of Holy Pascha we recall the words of our Lord to His apostles before His passion, reminding them that what He taught them was given by God Himself. Fr Thomas reminds Orthodox Christians that we must also receive this apostolic teaching and pass it on to new believers without any change or error.

in Romans 10, St Paul writes about the importance of his fellow Jews hearing about Christ and why it's important for their salvation. Fr Thomas reminds us that evangelism should not be a foreign concept to Orthodox Christians. We must get comfortable with sharing our faith in Christ and speaking about God's work in our life.

Fr Thomas challenges us to recognize that our task as Christians is not simply to come to church to be fed for our own purposes, but to be sent out to build up the body of Christ.

The societal and moral changes sweeping across the world pose profound challenges to Orthodox Christian believers. Fr Thomas reminds us that we must face these challenges squarely and never compromise what we believe by adopting worldly values.

Everyone has difficulties and problems that they face on a daily basis. Fr Thomas teaches us that in the midst of the storms of life we can experience the "peace from above" which is found only in Christ.

Using the example of the crowd who followed Jesus to a deserted place where he healed and fed them, Deacon Luke Loboda encourages us to trust Christ to come into the desolate places of our life to be present with us and heal us.

In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Jesus illustrates the consequences of unforgiveness. Fr Thomas teaches us that it is the God of love, mercy, and compassion who commands us to forgive and warns us of the judgment to come if we do not.

Christians are called to live in the will of God, but how do we find it? Fr Thomas teaches us that living in the will of God means identifying with God's Kingdom and not with the values of this fallen world.

One day after the horrendous killings of 11 Jewish worshippers in a Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Fr Thomas gives a sobering reflection from the reading of the Sunday: the exorcism of the Gadarene demoniac.

The beauty of Orthodoxy is richly expressed in her magnificent iconography adorning the walls and ceilings of our churches. As the parish of St Nicholas continues the iconographic renewal of their temple, Fr Thomas encourages parishioners to look up and see the Kingdom to come.

On the Sunday before Christmas, the kingly lineage of Jesus according to St Mathew is read. Fr Thomas teaches us that the names recount that Jesus is anything but a distant ruler, but rather that He identifies with the brokenness of humanity and comes to redeem us from it.

Christmas is indeed a time to enjoy the delight of children during the feast. Fr Thomas teaches us to also remember yet another great gift of Christmas: we become children of God.

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.

On the day before the Great Feast of the Annunciation of the Mother of God, Fr Thomas weaves the themes from the gospel of the Second Sunday of Lent (the healing of the paralytic) and from the Annunciation to remind us that the Word of God is given to us to increase our faith and trust in Him.

"God is Love" has become one of the most abused verses of Scripture. It's used today to justify every sin and excuse every condition. Fr Thomas urges us to look at the entirety of the Gospel message to truly understand the implications of being a creature of God Who is Love.

The Gospel reading for the fifth Sunday of Lent relates the story of the audacious question posed by the apostles James and John, who asked for glorification without first drinking the cup of humiliation. Fr Thomas reminds us that this basic principle of the Christian life proves true even for seemingly mundane things that we might mistakenly think are unimportant, like going to church to worship.

The Resurrection of Christ destroys death, division, and despair. And though the Lord provides proof of His Resurrection to destroy doubt in us, our hearts must be unlocked from the inside through faith.