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 room for compromise. They leave their nets, their livelihoods, and their security behind. This message challenges us to examine our own discipleship—whether we truly follow Christ or attempt to hold on to our comforts while walking behind Him.

True following transforms our priorities, our choices, and even how we live in God’s presence each day. This homily invites us to move beyond words and ritual, and to become the Body of Christ not only in name, but in life.

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 concept of ethos—the spiritual “vibe” or culture of a household—Fr. Sujit challenges families to make prayer, worship, and Sunday observance a way of life rather than a weekly decision. He also presents the child Jesus as a model for young people: seeking wisdom, listening attentively, and asking questions.

As we prepare for a new year, this homily calls parents, children, and the Church community to renew their commitment to raising the next generation in faith, rooted in tradition and sustained by active learning.

Homily delivered by Rev. Fr. Sujit Thomas at St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church, Philadelphia (Unruh).

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, heal, and set us free. Through Scripture and a simple, powerful story, we are reminded that no mistake is beyond God’s mercy, and no guilt is stronger than His love. God waits for us with open arms, even when we forget to listen.

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 repentance and instead bear its fruits through lives of integrity, contentment, and responsibility toward others. The feast calls us not only to remember our own baptism, but to become “living water” for the world around us.

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 Christ’s teaching, “I am the vine, you are the branches,” Fr. Abey reminds us that real transformation does not come from self-effort alone, but from abiding in Christ and allowing Him to shape our perspective. Difficulties become opportunities to cultivate the fruits of the Spirit, and prayer becomes a means of inner change rather than an escape from discomfort.

Reflecting on the Feast of the Circumcision of our Lord, this homily emphasizes that love must be proactive, sacrificial, and unconditional—especially within our families and communities. As we begin the year, listeners are invited to forgive, take responsibility, and choose love as the true mark of discipleship in Christ.

As a new year begins, Rev. Fr. Vijay Thomas of Sts. Basilios–Gregorios Orthodox Church, New Jersey, reflects on the uncertainty that surrounds every new beginning. From natural disasters to unexpected global crises, the future remains unknown—but the Christian calling remains the same: faithfulness.

Drawing from the life of Rebekah, Fr. Vijay reminds us that holiness is often found not in extraordinary plans, but in ordinary faithfulness—doing what God has placed before us with love, hospitality, and trust. Rather than relying on resolutions or illusions of control, this homily invites listeners to grow intentionally in their relationship with God.

Fr. Vijay offers three spiritual commitments for the new year: deepening our life in Christian community, strengthening prayer through the Psalms, and bearing fruit through active love and service to those in need. Reflecting on the Feast of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory the Theologian, he emphasizes that true faith is lived both in right belief and compassionate action.

This homily calls each of us to move forward—not standing still—but growing toward God by bearing fruit that reflects Christ to the world, whatever the year may bring.

In this Ladder Homily, Rev. Fr. Abey George of St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Long Island, reflects on the Gospel account of the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt and their uncertain journey back to Nazareth. While Christmas is often associated with peace and stability, this homily reminds us that the Nativity also unfolds amid fear, movement, and uncertainty.

Drawing from Christ’s teachings about the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, Fr. Abey challenges us to examine how our desire for certainty can become an idol that feeds worry and anxiety. True peace, he explains, is found not in control or comfort, but in trusting God, doing what is right, and surrendering ourselves to His will.

This episode invites listeners to move from anxiety to faith, from fear to trust, and from worldly concerns to a life rooted in the Kingdom of God.

In this Nativity homily, we are invited to shift our gaze from the frenzy of Christmas preparation to the mystery of what—and whom—we truly celebrate. So often, our attention is consumed by shopping lists, party planning, fasting rules, and the outward details of the feast. Yet the Gospel calls us to something greater: to contemplate the astonishing humility of the God who became man.

Framing the birth of Christ in its real historical context, the homily reminds us that Jesus entered a world marked by political oppression, displacement, and violence. The Holy Family’s journey to Bethlehem was not romantic or peaceful—it was a response to imperial demands, leaving them helpless in the face of forces far beyond their control. And the newborn Christ, whom we greet with joy today, became a refugee almost immediately after His birth.

This reality challenges our comfortable, idealized images of the manger. Christ sanctified every stage of human life by taking it on Himself—and therefore, in every human being, regardless of race, culture, or status, we are called to recognize Him. Even the wise men, with all their learning, fell prey to their own expectations, searching for a king in a palace rather than in a cave. Like them, we too often overlook Christ because He appears in unexpected places and people.

As we celebrate this feast once more, the homily urges us not simply to enjoy Christmas, but to reflect on its meaning. The Child born in Bethlehem must also be born within our hearts. He must be protected, nurtured, and given room to grow within us, so that His presence transforms our lives and allows His light to shine in a world still darkened by suffering.

Christmas is not only a celebration—it is a calling. May the Christ who comes to us today become visible in our hearts and in our lives.

In this homily, we explore a question many believers may never think to ask: Why did Jesus come from the line of Judah? Why not from Joseph—the most accomplished of Jacob’s sons—or from one of the more righteous tribes of Israel? The Gospel reading from Matthew 1 reveals something astonishing: the Messiah’s genealogy is filled not with the best and the most faithful, but with the broken, the sinful, and the deeply imperfect.

As we revisit the stories of Abraham, Jacob, Judah, David, Solomon, and others, we discover a lineage marked by deception, adultery, idolatry, violence, and failure. Even the women named—Tamar and “the wife of Uriah”—remind us that Scripture does not hide human sinfulness. And yet, through 14 generations of unfaithfulness, God continued to move His plan of salvation forward.

This message challenges the assumptions we often bring to our spiritual lives—that God works only in the humble, the just, or the God-fearing. While humility and righteousness matter, today’s Gospel shows that God also works through the unfaithful, the undeserving, and the broken. That truth is not an excuse for sin, but a powerful source of hope.

Standing before the Holy Mysteries, we are reminded that none of us is worthy—not even the priest who wears the vestments. Yet by grace, God makes us worthy, and He calls us not to the outward appearance but to the inward heart. Just as God chose Judah’s line—not for its greatness, but for His own purposes—we are called to offer our imperfect hearts to Him, trusting that He can work redemption through even the most unlikely of people.

As we prepare to receive the Holy Qurbana, this homily invites us to purify our hearts, to strive for faithfulness, and to stand in awe of the God who is faithful even when we are not.

In this homily, we reflect on the quiet but courageous role of St. Joseph in the story of Christ’s birth. Unlike Zechariah or Mary, Joseph receives God’s message not through a visible angel but through a dream—an encounter easy to doubt, yet powerful enough to change the course of salvation history. As Joseph wrestles with confusion, fear, and the shocking news of Mary’s pregnancy, we see a man who chooses compassion, humility, and obedience over suspicion or pride. God works through his openness, reminding us that the divine plan often unfolds in ways beyond human understanding.

We are challenged to resist the temptation to explain every mystery with our intellect alone, remembering the warning of the Church Fathers that Scripture cannot be grasped by reason alone. Instead, we look to Joseph, who trusted God even when he could not fully comprehend His ways. The angel proclaims that the Messiah comes not to build a political kingdom but to “save His people from their sins.” As we prepare for the Nativity, we are reminded that we, too, have been liberated from sin through baptism—and now bear the responsibility of living a life worthy of that freedom. May we, like Joseph, have the courage to follow God’s call, even when it comes to us as a whisper in the night.