Speaking the Truth in Love

In response to a listener's question, Fr. Thomas reflects on the phenomenon of suicide. How do we as Christians deal with it?

In the 5th part of his series on Charles Darwin, Fr. Thomas talks about the relationship of this Darwinian Revolution and natural science in general to the issue of Orthodox Christian theology.

Fr. Thomas Hopko explains how our acts, especially our prayers, are included in God's predestination based on His foreknowledge, and how our free-will actions, particularly our prayers, contribute to God's providence in our lives.

Fr. Tom addresses a question that came in by email from a listener who is perplexed by the seemingly inequitable treatment of people by God. Why are some blessed and others experience so much turmoil? It's a common question that is often felt but not always expressed.

What is the place of the human body in our spiritual life?

As we celebrate the Triumph of Orthodoxy and the victory over iconoclasm, Fr. Tom gives a personal reflection on icons and their use and misuse.

As the Lenten season begins, Fr. Tom Hopko reads a brief sermon penned by Fr. John Parker of Holy Ascension Orthodox Church in Mt. Pleasant, SC. This sermon was written in the style and tradition of St. John Chrysostom's well known and loved Paschal Homily.

In part 4 of Fr. Tom Hopko's talks on the Darwinian revolution, he looks at what Charles Darwin may have experienced in terms of Christianity in his day.

Today Fr. Tom talks about the study and communication of the Fathers of the Church according to Archimandrite Vasileios, retired Abbot of the Iviron Monastery on Mt. Athos.

How should we reflect on calamity and disasters like what was experienced in Haiti from a Christian perspective? Is God exacting judgment or is there another explanation? Fr. Tom Hopko helps us think this through.

Fr. Thomas takes a second look at the story of The Prodigal Son, this time focusing on the meaning of The Father's House.

Today Fr. Tom talks about theological formulation and explanation in the Orthodox Christian Church.

Fr. Tom was unable to attend the March for Life rally in Washington DC earlier this week but he did think about what he would have said had he been given the opportunity to speak.

Fr. Hopko explains that this feast marks the end of the Winter Pascha and the beginning of the season of repentance.

In part 3 of the Darwin series, Fr. Tom explores the Darwin era and what was happening at that time in Christianity.

Fr. Tom continues his series on Darwin and Christianity. This is part 2.

What is the relationship between the concepts of natural selection and Christian theology? Fr. Tom begins a series of reflections on Charles Darwin and what he has learned in his research may surprise you!

Fr. Tom Hopko talks about St. Seraphim's conversation with Nicholas Motovilov on "acquisition of the Holy Spirit."

St. Seraphim of Sarov taught that the aim of the Christian life is to live by the Spirit of God. Today Fr. Tom explores the acquisition of the Holy Spirit.

From the Speaking the Truth in Love archives, Fr. Tom Hopko offers this very helpful meditation on the feast of Theophany.

Enthroned on high with the Eternal Father and Your divine Spirit, O Jesus, You willed to be born on earth of the unwedded handmaid, your Mother. Therefore You were circumcised as an eight-day old Child. Glory to Your most gracious counsel; glory to Your dispensation; glory to Your condescension, O only Lover of mankind.

In a new reflection, Fr. Thomas Hopko teaches about the virgin birth and the significance of this Orthodox dogma on the identity of Christ.

Fr. Thomas Hopko presents a meditation on how the liturgical services of Christmas and Epiphany pattern those of the Christ's Holy Pascha of Easter.

What is the significance of all of those "begats" in the Gospel lesson just before Nativity? Fr. Tom breaks it down for us in the current episode.

On the first two Sundays before Christmas, we commerate and sing about all of the faithful throughout the ages who prepared for the birth of Christ. Fr. Tom references the book Surprised by Christ by Fr. A. James Bernstein which is available from Conciliar Press.

We are invited like Philip invited Nathaniel to "come and see," really see as we fix our hearts and minds on Christ the Savior during this paschal lenten season.

On a beautiful fall afternoon at the family home in Canada, Fr. Tom is reflecting on the disparity between the beauty of God's creation and the tremendous suffering happening in the world.

Fr. Tom encourages us to remember the place of gratitude and thanksgiving in the Christian life and tells us how we can go deeper and higher into the meaning of gratitude.

Fr. Tom teaches on this significant feast at the beginning of the Nativity season.

God grieves, we grieve, and life is often permeated with sadness. What does this mean when we also contemplate the "joy" of the Christian life?

As we are in the beginning days of the Nativity fast, Fr. Tom takes us on a journey from the Presentation of Mary in the Temple to Theophany. Fr. Tom references a couple of resources: The Winter Pascha by Fr. Thomas Hopko Putting Christmas Back into Christ - CD series by Fr. Thomas Hopko

Having just celebrated the Feast of the Angels, Fr. Tom asks - Who are the angels and the demons? Were the demons created evil? Can they repent? Get the answer to these questions and much more in this episode.

Following his two part series on the Wrath of God, Fr. Tom turns his attention to our own anger and wrath and how that differs from God's.

Fr. Thomas continues to get listener feedback on his teaching on God's wrath. In this follow-up lesson, he explores further how the Scriptures and the Fathers express this difficult concept as compared to the hellenistic and platonic views sometimes expressed through history.

Fr. Tom Hopko addresses an issue that he gets the most email about - how are we to understand the wrath of God and how does it relate to our salvation?

Whether you celebrate it on October 1 or on October 28 (traditions differ), you will enjoy Fr. Thomas' account of how the Mother of God protected a Constantinople church from an invading army, and how that inspires our own worship.

Sitting in his study, Fr. Tom reflects on the past 50 years of the Orthodox Church. August marked the 46th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.

Celebrating one of the twelve great feasts of the Church. (Click here to view the children's choir Fr. Thomas mentions in the podcast.)

Fr. Tom follows up on his thoughts on suffering and pain by looking specifically at the events of 9-11-2001.

Throughout the history of the Church, there have been moments of scandal and disappointment with various hierarchs of the Church. How are we to respond as faithful Orthodox Christians? Fr. Tom shares his reflections.

Fr. Thomas teaches about the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos.

September 1 marks the beginning of the Church year and Fr. Tom Hopko is meditating on the meaning of times and seasons in Church life.

In commemoration of the Feast of his beheading, Fr. Tom continues his discussion of the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptizer, John.

Fr. Tom speaks with two students and a leader in the Crossroad program.

With the Feast Day of the Beheading of St. John approaching (August 29), Fr. Thomas examines the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptizer, John.

Fr. Tom interviews the leaders of the Crossroad program at Hellenic College in Brookline, MA. Crossroad is intended to help High School students discern their life callings, matching their personal gifts with the needs of the world. His guests are Ann Bezzerides, Mary Long, and Dan Belonic. He referenced in this interview his very informative eight-part AFR podcast series on the Church and State. In the next program, Fr. Tom will interview some of the participants in Crossroad.

In his final interview series from Albania, Fr. Tom talks with John and Aleks from the Resurrection School of Theology in Albania.

In his continuing interview series from Albania, Fr. Tom interviews four US missionaries including full time OCMC missionary Pamela Anastasia Barksdale.

The next interview from Albania is with veteran OCMC missionary Nathan Hoppe. Fr. Tom references a recording of Nathan's late wife Lynette made only a week or two before she died. That recording was featured on AFR in an interview with Fr. Luke Veronis and can be heard HERE. You can purchase Fr. Luke's book by clicking HERE. For Lynette's pictorial album about the re-birth of the Church in Albania, click HERE.

Fr. Tom recorded this on Jan 21: the day after the inauguration of President Barak Obama and the day before the March for Life in Washington, DC. He draws on Scripture, Tradition, and St. Maximus to help us know how to react to rampant abortions in our world.