Sermons at St. Nicholas

Everyone has encountered long periods of suffering and grief. How do we engage these times in a manner that is beneficial to our spiritual life? How do we develop patient endurance? Listen as Fr. Tom brings this encouraging message of hope in Christ.

As we read about the healing of the blind man, Fr. Tom implores us to always see ourselves, the Church, and - most importantly - Christ with new, spiritual eyes.

In this convicting message, Fr. Tom shows us that following Christ can - and will - cost us everything; however, we are promised so much more here and in the world to come.

As the celebration of Theophany continues, Fr. Tom shows us that all of Christ's redemptive work is set forth to build the Church and bring us to perfection.

Listen as Fr. Tom explains how Christ completely shatters our concept of time!

Listen as Fr. Tom reminds us that, to fully worship God, we need both our souls and our bodies.

Fr. Tom greets us on the blessed feast of the Nativity to remind us that only in the light of Christ can we find true fulfillment.

As we work our way through the Nativity Fast, Fr. Tom cautions us not to get bogged down in earthly matters, but to embrace our healing in the incarnate Christ.

Listen as Fr. Tom shows from the Scriptures how the only response to the truth is to be crucified to the world.

Often we're quick to hope that we can identify with the Good Samaritan in the Scriptures; however, Fr. Tom reminds us that Christ is always the Good Samaritan, and we are the ones broken, on the side of the road awaiting His healing.

We all suffer and struggle in our lives, but how often do we think of the reality that the demons seek to oppress us? Listen as Fr. Tom shows clearly from the Scriptures that this is the case, and what we must do about it.

Reading the Parable of the Rich Man & Lazarus, Fr. Tom urges us to remember our own death and to take heart that the final justice is God's.

Fr. Tom reminds us that the part of the world seeking the Truth desires authenticity and that we must remove ourselves far from compromise with the declining worldly values.

The beauty of Orthodoxy is in its Christ-centeredness. Fr. Tom reminds us that Christ is everything and that we are only saved in and through Him; however, that doesn't mean we do nothing! Salvation comes not through easy belief-ism, but through following the command of our Lord to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him.

Listen as Fr. Tom urges us to become like God in our forgiveness.

The dark reality of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist is one that is the direct result of sin. Listen as Fr. Tom encourages us that while this life may not require such a fate, our persecutions are nothing compared to the glory which awaits us.

Tying together the Gospel readings from this week and the week prior, Fr. Tom lays out the reality that the One who prays, the One who walks on water, the One who gives us Himself in the Eucharist is always present . . . especially in our trials.

Pulling from all of the scripture readings of the day, Fr. Tom shows that the doctrine of the Theotokos - and, ultimately, every doctrine of the Orthodox Church - is really about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Fr. Tom meditates on how encounters with Christ and His miracles - both today and in the Scriptures - elicit opposite responses. We see some who accept them and some who deny them in the most vicious ways. What will your response be?

As we remember the saints of North America, we remember that what made them special wasn't ethnicity or cultural preservation . . . it was their desire to preach the Gospel!

All Saints Sunday is about far more than remembering especially holy people. It's about hearing Christ's call for us to become truly human.

We're all familiar with the high priestly prayer of Christ, but what are its implications for us here and now? How does it dictate our worship, our service, our unity? Listen as Fr. Tom unpacks the prayer of our Lord.

Unpacking the Sunday epistle reading, Fr. Tom helps us to enter into the cosmic mystery that is Christ and the New Covenant. The Divine Liturgy is not a dead work; it is a provision to allow us to enter into the eternal sacrifice of God every time we gather.

Lest we forget the cosmic realities of our Orthodox worship, Fr. Tom unpacks the reading of the Samaritan Woman in order to remind us that worship in spirit and in truth is not bound to space or time, and includes - not least of all - personal sacrifice.

The story of the Myrrh-Bearing Women should serve as a reminder to us that the resurrection demands action on our part, including a bold proclamation of the truth.