Join Michael as he discusses why God’s wrath is an expression of His love, what hinders us from understanding and accepting this, and why it is debilitating when it is intended to be transformative.

Join Michael for a discussion of the primacy of focusing on loving more not sinning less and why this will be the basis of how God judges our lives.

Fr. Seraphim Aldea exhorts his listeners to fight for faith in the living God during this challenging time.

The is NO LIFE in despondency and abandonment. We must learn to fight for love, fight for joy, and this LOVE will teach us about God.

Some things are to be discerned with one's mind, but others - the most important ones - should be approached based on faith and love alone. One cannot 'discern' one's vocation for married or monastic life; this is not a choice to be made based on logical assessment, but on the love one feels in one's heart.

The opinion of others can destroy one's self-esteem. We need to found our life on Christ's values, regardless of the response that generates in those around us. We may be unpopular, but we are truly ourselves, and that is worth carrying this Cross for.

Discussing the famous verses John 3:16-17, Fr. Andrew talks about the relationship between love and truth—which one will win?

Discussing Jesus' command in Luke 6 to love our enemies, Fr. Andrew talks about what that means in daily life, who are enemies are, and just what love actually is. Bonus commentary addresses a complication: Do you have to love an abuser?

St. Paul's famous Love Chapter in 1 Cor. 13 follows on the closing verses of 1 Cor. 12, which are about the gifts God gives the Church in her people. So what is love? Where do we get it? And how does that express itself in these gifts? What about love in daily life?

On today's show we recap March for Life, talk about OCF communities with Dn. Robert Miclean, and talk with friends about College Conference. Theme song, "Burn Out Bright," by Switchfoot, used by permission.

How can we see and share love on a college campus? Hear as OCF Student Leadership Board members share their thoughts about love. Danielle brings it all together with a discussion of "the disciple whom Jesus loved", the holy Apostle and Evangelist John.

In this episode, Danielle and Jeanine dive into understanding Christ-centered relationships. They discuss where to find these relationships, their benefits, and why it’s helpful to maintain them with other young adults

This week on Healthy Minds, Healthy Souls, join Fr. Nick and Pres. Roxanne Louh as they talk with Orthodox director Robert Krantz about his new movie, FAITH, HOPE, & LOVE.

We need both truth and love to row through the fog of this world.

Love is too precious, too powerful, and too popular to mean anything we want it to. Instead, love needs definition and contour so that we may know what love is not, just as we may know what love is.

Fr. John answers a question at once innocent and terrifying.

Fr. John Oliver considers the motivating forces behind Zacchaeus' movement up the tree and towards Jesus.

Fr. John Oliver asks whether it is possible for a Christian to loose their sanity, their ability to manage their lives, and how to trust God in the struggle.

Jesus said "the kingdom of God is taken by force" and sometime it feels like a battle to allow ourselves to love one another as God intended.

Fr. Joseph manages to connect grandma with KISS, mama with a dirty slugger, catgut with a knee bone, wrestling with a loser, and God Himself with bending the rules -- all in under 12 minutes! (This episode is taken from the new audio version of "We Came, We Saw, We Converted: The Lighter Side of Orthodoxy in America", available from Conciliar Press.)

Miss Jane gets a tongue lashing, Mr. Bodine speaks in tongues. Things go dark as Fr. Joseph interviews Dr. Indadark. In the end, lacking the main ingredient, it's all just peas and carrots. Suffice it to say: Love covers a multitude of podcasts.

Actions speak louder than words. Some words acquire different meanings depending on context. And love, well, love changes everything. But ...

Actions speak louder than words. Some words acquire different meanings depending on context. And love, well, love changes everything. But ...

Not much has changed on the internet since this episode appeared five years ago: endless pics of naughty bits, cyber minefields, perpetual gossip, and . . . Christ. It's "the End" versus "the sun will come out tomorrow." So, whose side are you on?

In this episode, Fr. Anthony talks with theologian and professor Carrie Frederick Frost about her book, Maternal Body: A Theology of Incarnation from the Christian East (Paulist Press, 2019). She shares what it was like to study with Vigen Guroian, her thoughts on why the book elicits such varying (and emotional) reactions, as well as some of the theological lessons we can learn from each of the stages of motherhood from conception through weaning. Along the way, they talk about the process of discernment and what to do (and not do!) when the Church teaches us or does things that trouble us. Like her mentor, Professor Frost makes full use of Orthodox hymnography, iconography, service texts, and personal experience in her work. Enjoy the show!

In this episode, Fr. Anthony and Dn. Michael Abrahamson talk about gardening and the difference between transactional love (loving to be liked, respected, etc.) and loving without reservation. This is a recording of Fr. Anthony's livestream. Enjoy the show!

Homily on the Last Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46). Fr. Anthony draws on his experience as a retired Army officer (USAR) and the teaching of St. Maximus the Confessor to provide perspective, consolation, and encouragement during this time of war. Major points include the way the world and its labels darken our spiritual sight and the power Christ has given to His Royal Priesthood to heal the world's pain.

We tell them that God is Love, but do we go a step further and teach them what it means to actually love other people? Literally, how do we show love? I think we assume that people know that already, but maybe they don't—or maybe we could do better.

Have you felt a lack of love from church leaders? Fr. Michael responds to a reader of his blog about a question related to his recent podcast about Abbess Thaisia: "I am struggling with much of the same issue in your excerpt posted from Thaisia in regards to discouragement with those in church leadership and a lack of love by those in the church."

"St. Isaac the Syrian’s homily 44 is one of his several very difficult homilies. It is difficult not because it is hard to understand. Exactly the opposite is the case. It is quite straight forward and easy to understand. I understand it, and I am offended by it." Here is a link to the book that Fr. Michael mentions at the end of this blog: http://www.orthodoxchristianebooks.com/grace-of-incorruption

Fr. Michael shares from Homily 47 of St. Isaac the Syrian. "Knowledge is not something to be held in contrast to love; but rather, knowledge is the beginning of a process or journey that leads to love. Knowledge is the infancy of love. And just as a July apple is hard and green and bitter, so knowledge when its growth into love has been hindered, only makes us proud (pride being the spiritual equivalent of the upset tummy that comes from eating green apples). But when knowledge has matured, St. Isaac tells us, it ‘surmounts’ even what is natural to attain to love."

Fr. Michael discusses how to relate our faith to those who need to hear it: spreading the crumbs that have fallen from our master's table (Mt. 15:27). How do we share our talents with those in need?

Today we live in a time of uncertainty; but really, today is no more uncertain than yesterday nor the day or year or century before. Certainty is a kind of delusion. It is a delusion that conveniently forgets that there is much, much more going on in the world than we know and can see. How, then, can we live in peace when our life is enveloped in uncertainty? How do we escape the fear of uncertainty?

I want to make clear to everyone that we will not be asking anyone about vaccination status. As in almost all matters, so with government health mandates, it is possible (probable) that very godly, intelligent and well-meaning people will disagree. Let’s not let self righteousness—and her children, fear, anger, and judgement—keep us from loving one another and believing the best of one another, even if we don’t see eye to eye on this or any other political or medical matter.

"The grace of God is not in the man who does not love his enemies."

In his continuing series on the names of Jesus, Fr. Thomas looks at the meaning behind the scriptural references to God's chosen ones through whom came God's Chosen One.

This week, the guys discuss Marvel’s Doctor Strange and how the film handled transcendence, sacrifice, heroism, and love. They close with their top 5 fictional (medical) doctors of all time.

The girls watched the recent romantic comedy The Big Sick. They discuss modern dating, how faith can become a cultural characteristic, and the difficult need to stand up for what’s right. They close with their Top 5 Movie Moms.

Emma and Christina take on the Netflix film, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. They discuss the ways humans deal with suffering, how true love demands vulnerability, and how our choices impact the world around us. They close with their Top 5 Sister Friendships.

Just in time for Christmas, the girls rewatched the 2003 rom-com, Love Actually. They discuss what actually makes something a Christmas story, how true love involves sacrifice, and the connectedness of our lives. They close with their Top 5 Christmas Movies.

At the beginning of Great Lent, the guys discuss the moving Russian film, Ostrov (The Island). They explore how repentance is an ongoing act, how compunction opens our hearts to grace, and how false piety fails to measure up to true holiness. They close with their Top 5 Redemption Stories.

The girls discuss the podcast-gone-Amazon series, Modern Love. They reflect on the nature of "modern" love, how love makes us vulnerable, and how true love calls us to become real. They close with their Top 5 Love Stories That Are Not About Romantic Love.

Becoming a blessing to others is the way to be blessed ourselves.

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

Whenever we give our time, resources, or attention to help anyone who is in need in any way, we embrace an opportunity to serve our Savior and participate more fully in His life.

The love to which Christ calls us is not merely an emotion, but a true offering of ourselves for the sake of someone else. It is a self-less offering in which we put the needs and interests our neighbors before our own. It is a personal offering that builds communion with other people and unites us together as those who share a common life. Of course, the basis of such love is the great Self-Offering of Christ, Who enables us all to share in His eternal life as members together of His Body, the Church, as a foretaste of the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Lord used the story of the Good Samaritan to show us who we must become if we are truly uniting ourselves to Him in faith.