Sin is opaque - it does not allow the light of God to enter and be reflected from our lives. Fr. Stephen looks at the work of God's light within our lives and suggests ways in which we may understand our relationship with God through what the Scripture says about light and darkness.

Fr. Stephen offers a reflection on what it means to say that "God exists."

There is a modern construct of the self that is something of a delusion. Fr. Stephen speaks about our true life "that is hidden with Christ in God" as taught by St. Paul.

Fr. Stephen contrasts the Scriptural understanding of repentance with many of the modern misunderstandings that crowd our world and suggests ways that our hearts may learn the "instinct" of repentance.

Fr. Stephen offers thoughts on how it is we are saved in our weakness rather than our strength.

Fr. Stephen looks at the timeless and eternal aspects of the feast of Pascha and how it effects our daily lives.

Numerous elders of the Orthodox Church speak about the common responsibility for sin that we share through our humility and love for one another. Fr. Stephen examines how this can be so.

A meditation on the words of Elder Sophrony, "Our lives are an endless martyrdom," gives rise to thoughts on the true character of the liturgy.

Fr. Stephen reflects on a few quotes from Fr. Alexander Schmemann's For the Life of the World - and the crisis of secularism in which we live.

What does it mean to be good? Fr. Stephen speaks about the mystery of goodness and how it is only known in Christ.

Reflecting on a sermon of St. Gregory Palamas, Fr. Stephen looks at the significance of the Cross as reflected in the writings of the fathers.

Fr. Stephen looks at the implications for the "end of the world" found in Christ's preaching and incarnation, and what they mean for us.

The forgiveness of enemies is a commandment of Christ and yet something we find almost impossible to do? Why has Christ asked such a thing of us?

Fr. Stephen looks at particular points within the gospel teaching that are sometimes "scandalous," that is a "rock of stumbling" for believers. He examines how important these points are and how essential for our salvation.

Fr. Stephen examines what it means that the Church is the nexus of the crucified Christ's love.

Fr. Stephen looks at the teaching of Christ on love for enemies and sets it in its proper spiritual context.

Fr. Stephen, having experienced a time of grief in the loss of his father, writes about the faith of Pascha and what it is to which we should look as we await our reunion with those we love.

Fr. Stephen looks at the meaning of the "Great Cloud of Witnesses" whom St. Paul describes as surrounding us as we go about the struggle of the Christian life.

Fr. Stephen looks at the very heart of fasting—not the foods, not the 'how to's'—but why we fast.

St. Gregory of Nyssa speaks of man both as singer and song. Fr. Stephen explores how we are the "song of God."

God engages our world in concrete, practical ways. These "sacraments" are a means of sharing in the Divine Life. Fr. Stephen speaks about the "sacrament" of mercy.

What is the soul? Fr. Stephen speaks about the "secret life" and the mystery of our selves.

Our feelings and desires are trained by our culture to seek satisfaction. In our spiritual life, we often need to learn how to be disappointed. Fr. Stephen looks at the "disappointment of religion."

The true self is "hid with Christ in God," St. Paul tells us. What then is the "self" that we live with every day? Fr. Stephen looks at how we create our own identity and how we should seek our true self in Christ.

Fr. Stephen continues with the topic of the battle between the true self and the false self, looking this week at what it means to be "moral."

When the Church's hymns describe us as "rational sheep," what does it mean? Fr. Stephen offers this meditation on language and humanity. Language is part of our deepest nature - and it is a reflection of God.

"The whole world is a sacrament," according to Patriarch Bartholomew. Fr. Stephen explores what this means as he examines the Eucharist in the Scriptures.

Fr. Stephen looks at our role as "priests of creation" in a world understood as sacrament.

Fr. Stephen looks at several of Christ's difficult sayings and what they mean. Why is it permissible to call a priest "Father"?

Are "mental" and "spiritual" the same thing? Fr. Stephen looks at how modern misunderstandings of the spiritual life can distort our Orthodox practices.

How do we lose God in the midst of our plans? How can we keep Him?

Christ is the fire of God that comes among us. May He burn brightly in our hearts!

Fr. Stephen uses the language of Baptism to describe the "mystical reality" of the Christian life.

Fr. Stephen looks at the nature of envy and its deep connections with ideas of justice.

St. Paul describes the mystery of the faith as: Christ within us, the hope of glory. Fr. Stephen looks at the meaning of God in us and the life of grace.

Does God have feelings? Can we influence how he feels? Fr. Stephen looks carefully at the theology of grace and the idea of the psychology of God.

This podcast is part one of three where Fr. Stephen explores the topic of Orthodoxy and our sexual/gendered existence.

In part two of this three part talk on male and female, Fr. Stephen looks at the "hidden" character of this aspect of our lives.

Fr. Stephen completes his short series on the true meaning of male and female in Orthodox teaching.

Fr. Stephen offers thoughts on the providence of God—His will working good for us all despite what we may see or think.

Fr. Stephen reflects on the complexity of the human heart through the work of Dostoevsky.

The spiritual life values being old and gives lessons to the young.

Fr. Stephen continues his thoughts on the topic of shame—looking at its place in Christ's death on the Cross.

With this podcast, Fr. Stephen begins a series in which he looks at the reality of shame and its place in our emotional and spiritual lives. He introduces us to the teaching of the Elder Sophrony that we must learn to "bear a little shame."

Fr. Stephen Freeman offers some insight on dealing with the dark thoughts that often fill our minds.

When we give thanks to God, particularly in difficult times, Fr. Stephen Freeman tells us we unite ourselves with the Cross of Christ.

Fr. Stephen offers a meditation on the theme of desire and ecstasy in the writings of the Fathers, and its importance for the gospel.

The heart of loneliness is broken communion. Fr. Stephen Freeman looks at the roots of this rupture and its experience as shame.

Fr. Stephen Freeman speaks about the the goodness of creation and the place that suffering holds within it - including a form of suffering that is not evil.

Fr. Stephen Freeman looks at the unique Gift that God gives us in Christ's Pascha: the revelation of our true self.