The Ladder Homilies

As a snowstorm forces us indoors, we are reminded of another kind of quarantine—the isolation caused by sin. In this powerful Lenten reflection, we look at Christ’s healing of the leper and what it reveals about our own hidden spiritual wounds. Though our lives may appear clean on the outside, we each know the “stench” of our own distance from God. Lent is the season to come before Christ like the...

Holy Lent is not about giving something up — it is about waging war. In this powerful homily, we are reminded that Lent is a weapon God has given us to fight against the evil one. But the greatest danger isn’t always obvious sin — it’s the subtle sin we normalize, excuse, and ignore. We explore two dangerous spiritual traps: Trivializing sin until it becomes “normal” Focusing on others’ faults ins...

On the Second Sunday of the Great Fast, Rev. Dn. Reuben Thomas reflects on Christ’s healing of the leper and reminds us that Lent is not just a season of fasting—but a season of healing. Just as the leper boldly approached Christ saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean,” we too are called to admit our spiritual sickness and seek the Heavenly Physician. The Church is not a place for “wel...

At the beginning of Great Lent, the Church places before us the Sermon on the Mount—the “greatest hits” of Holy Scripture. In Matthew 7, Christ summarizes the entire Old Testament with one powerful principle: “In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you.” This homily explores how the Lord’s Prayer lifts our minds to heaven and teaches us to live on earth with a heavenly attitude....

On the Second Sunday of Great Lent, the Sunday of the Leper, Rev. Deacon Shojil Abraham reminds us that the Fast is not merely about personal discipline, but about restoring and deepening our relationships. While Great Lent calls us back to the essentials—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—it also calls us to examine three vital relationships: Our relationship with Christ Our relationship with our ne...

Great Lent is finally here—but are we excited about it? For many of us, Lent feels like restriction, sacrifice, and giving things up. But what if we’ve been looking at it the wrong way? What if Great Lent is not about losing something—but about gaining everything? In this powerful and practical message, we are reminded that the true goal of Great Lent is simple: to become closer to God. From where...

At the Wedding in Cana (John 2:1–11), the miracle only happens because there was a need. When the wine ran out, the presence of Christ was revealed. In a world overflowing with comfort, food, entertainment, and wealth, we risk becoming spiritually blind. As we enter Great Lent, this homily reflects on how voluntary limitation restores spiritual sight. Sometimes God allows the wine to run out so we...

On the Sunday that prepares the Church for the entrance into Great Lent , Rev. Fr. Abey George reflects on the Gospel of the Wedding at Cana , revealing its deep spiritual meaning as a guide for the Lenten journey ahead. While the Gospel invites us to a celebration, it also confronts us with a sobering truth: the pleasures of this world always run out . Through vivid examples from Scripture, human...

As the Church prepares to enter the Great Fast, she first asks us to remember the departed. Why do we pray for them? And what does Scripture really teach about death? In this sermon, we reflect on the Christian understanding of two kinds of death : physical death and spiritual death, often called the second death . Drawing from Scripture, the Church’s prayers, and the teachings of the Church Fathe...

As we stand on the threshold of Great Lent, Rev. Fr. Gheevarghese John offers a sobering and hopeful reflection on sin, repentance, and God’s mercy. Addressing the misconception that God causes suffering, this homily clarifies that destruction comes from the fallen world—and at times from our own choices—not from God. Through Christ’s difficult Gospel imagery, we are called to examine ourselves ho...

As the Church enters the Sundays of preparation before Great Lent, she invites us to slow down and remember that reality is deeper than what our senses can perceive. On this Sunday of the Departed Clergy, we are reminded that the spiritual world is not distant or imaginary—it is real, active, and present, even when we cannot see it. Using a simple everyday experience and the words of our Lord abou...

As the Church stands on the threshold of Great Lent , Rev. Fr. Abey George reflects on Christ’s urgent call to watchfulness and preparation, drawing from the Gospel’s sobering imagery and the parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25). While words like judgment and “gnashing of teeth” may sound frightening, this homily reminds us that Christ speaks not to terrify, but to awaken us — to keep us attent...

In this homily for the Sunday of the Departed Clergy , Rev. Fr. Sujit Thomas reflects on Christ’s parable of the faithful and wise servant (Matthew 24:42–51) and its deep meaning for both clergy and laity. While the Church remembers the priests who were entrusted with the care of God’s household, this message widens the lens to reveal a calling shared by all: parents, grandparents, godparents, and...

On the Feast of the Lord’s Entry into the Temple (Mayaltho), Rev. Fr. Sujit Thomas reflects on the Gospel of Luke 2:22–40, where the infant Christ is presented in the Temple and meets the faithful witnesses Simeon and Anna. This feast, often called the Feast of the Meeting, reveals Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel’s long-awaited hope for salvation. Drawing parallels across the Gospel of Luke, Fr...

In tonight’s Gospel reading from John 3:1–12, we encounter Nicodemus — a respected teacher who comes to Jesus under the cover of night. This detail is not accidental. As the Church Fathers remind us, Nicodemus comes in darkness not only because of fear, but because his faith is still uncertain. St. John Chrysostom tells us that he comes by night because his faith “was not yet steadfast.” Jesus res...

On the Third Sunday after the Great Feast of Denaha, and on the eve of the Nineveh Fast, His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos reflects on the Gospel encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus (John 3). Nicodemus, a respected leader, comes to Christ by night—revealing the tension between truth, fear, and public faith. Through this encounter, His Grace explores how institutional fear, compromise, and conce...

In this homily, His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos reflects on the Gospel account of Jesus calling Philip and Nathanael, drawing our attention to the subtle but powerful role of prejudice, assumptions, and human bias in our spiritual lives. Through Nathanael’s question—“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”—we are invited to examine our own tendencies to judge people, places, and situations too...

In this homily, Rev. Fr. Abey George reflects on Jesus’ striking words about Nathanael: “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit.” This divine compliment becomes an invitation for every Christian to examine the condition of their own heart. If God were to look at our lives today, could He say the same about us? Fr. Abey explores the true meaning of innocence—not as naïveté or immat...

In Matthew 4:12–22, Jesus calls ordinary fishermen with a simple command: “Follow Me.” Without delay, they leave their nets and respond. Their immediacy stands in sharp contrast to another call in Scripture—the moment in Genesis 19 when Lot is urged by the angels to flee Sodom, yet lingers . This homily reflects on the danger of spiritual delay and the power of divine mercy. Why do we hesitate whe...

In this deeply honest and comforting homily, Deacon Rohan Daniel wrestles with one of the most universal questions of faith: Where is God when we suffer? From war and illness to loneliness and doubt, this message speaks directly to those moments when belief feels difficult and God feels distant. Drawing from the struggles of the Israelites, the doubt of Moses, and the Gospel encounter between Phil...

On the first Sunday after the Feast of Theophany, this homily reflects on the beginning of Christ’s public ministry and His call to the first disciples. Moving beyond the revelation of who Christ is, the Gospel now confronts us with a deeper question: how do we respond when Jesus says, “Follow Me”? Through the calling of Peter, Andrew, James, and John, we see a radical obedience that leaves no roo...

In this homily, Rev. Fr. Sujit Thomas reflects on the Gospel of Christ at twelve years old in the Temple, highlighting St. Luke’s emphasis on Jesus’ growth in wisdom, stature, and grace. Set within the context of family life, this passage reveals the vital role parents play in nurturing faith through consistent practice, tradition, and participation in the life of the Church. Drawing on the concep...

In this homily, we reflect on the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist and the haunting fear of Herod, a man enslaved by his own guilt and sin. Through Matthew 14, we see how unrepented sin binds the heart, creates fear, and distorts our vision of God. Yet the message of John the Baptist—and of Christ Himself—remains clear: Repent . To repent is to turn back to God, the only One who can truly forgive...

In this homily for the Feast of Theophany, we reflect on the baptism of Christ in the Jordan—not simply as a historical event, but as the public revelation of the Holy Trinity. As Christ enters the waters, creation itself is sanctified, reminding us that all the waters of the earth are made holy. Drawing from the preaching of St. John the Baptist, we are challenged to move beyond words of repentan...

In this New Year homily, Rev. Fr. Abey George of St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Long Island, challenges common superstitions and expectations we place on the beginning of the year. Rather than trying to control the future or avoid hardship, he calls us to enter the new year with two essential commitments: to seek Christ in every moment and to grow in love through intentional action. Drawing from Chri...