Sermons at St. Nicholas

The question, "What must I do to be saved?" is usually interpreted of as, "How can I get to heaven?" Fr Thomas teaches us that eternal life is defined by Jesus as something we can have here and now and He teaches us what we need to do to experience it.

The feasts of the Nativity and Baptism of Christ are dramatic examples of the intersection of the spiritual and material in the life of humanity. Fr Thomas teaches us that we must acknowledge and experience this intersection to participate in God's recreation and renewal of the world.

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)

After a tumultuous week in the nation, Fr Thomas teaches us that the parable of the Good Samaritan commands that we must not only physically serve our neighbor who is beat up and in need, but spiritually heal them as well.

Using the stories of the healing of the woman with the flow of blood and the raising of Jairus's daughter, Fr Thomas points out that the only answer to the empty promises of the world and its false philosophies is faith in Christ. (Lk 8:41-56)

In the dramatic parable of the Lazarus and the Rich Man, the Lord teaches us the importance of sharing our wealth with those in need. Fr Thomas turns to the topic of generosity, and how it can transform our lives and even our parishes.

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 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 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)

The scriptural readings for the eighth Sunday after Pentecost reveal a clear picture of who we are to be in Christ. St Paul teaches us that we are to be of the same mind, while St Matthew records the miracle of feeding the 5,000. Fr Thomas teaches us that we must consciously reject the choices the world presents to us, but rather fully immerse ourselves into the Church's life, which is transformin...

Recent news has reported that, in the US, church attendance is down, in direct relation to the social changes sweeping the country. Fr Thomas teaches us that when the winds of change blow, the most important thing we can do is assess our own commitment to faith in Christ by checking for spiritual blindness.

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.

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.

On the first Sunday after Pentecost, the feast of All Saints, Fr Thomas teaches us that, because we are created in the image of God, we have the calling to become Saints who have grown in the likeness of God.

On the great feast of Pentecost, guest homilist Fr Basil Biberdorf teaches us the importance of knowing Who the Holy Spirit is, and of His role in our Christian life.

Cutting through the din of religious pluralism, Fr Thomas reminds us that the Orthodox Faith uniquely gives us everything for 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.

Third Sunday after Pentecost

In a spirited presentation about growing the Church, Fr Thomas gives us practical advice about sharing our faith taken from the example of Jesus's conversion of the Samaritan Woman.

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.

At every post-Resurrection appearance, the Lord Jesus Christ greets His Disciples with the words "Peace be with you! Do not be afraid!" Fr Thomas teaches us that because of Christ's destruction of the sting of death by His own death, and our participation in His death and resurrection through our baptism, we have nothing to fear, not even death itself!

Modern western societies are experiencing decreasing interest in attending church. Even some Orthodox Christian families are succumbing to secular activities on Sunday morning instead of gathering together as God's People in the church. Using the story of St Thomas' encounter with Christ eight days after His Resurrection, Fr Thomas teaches why coming to church is so important, and reminds us that,...

The Christian life is surely a paradox. Our Lord teaches those who love Him that if they want to be exalted, they must be humble; if they want to be great, they must be a servant. Fr Thomas leads us into Holy Week by telling us that the Lord Jesus Christ not only teaches this paradox, but He lives it, and by so doing, He wins our salvation.

The gospel reading for the Fourth Sunday of Lent is about the healing of the demon-possessed boy. In it, we can all relate to the pleading of the boy's father: "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!" To help us in our Lenten journey, Father Thomas gives us three practical ways to strengthen and deepen our faith, taken directly from this Sunday's readings.

As the Precious Cross is brought out into the midst of the faithful marking the midpoint of the Lenten journey, Fr Thomas offers two sermons for our edification. The first was preached on Sunday morning at St Nicholas about "Three Aspects of the Cross." The second (beginning at 14:00) was recorded at the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh Diocesan Sunday Evening Vespers in Ambridge, PA on "Christ the Way,...