Episodes
Fr. Stephen Freeman looks at the “allegorical” or “symbolic” reading of Scripture - and its importance for our daily life.
Published 07/22/24
Published 07/22/24
Fr. Stephen Freeman looks at the mystery of love and freedom, and the limits God places on Himself as He raises us, by love, to be His “equals."
Published 06/22/24
Fr. Stephen Freeman shares about the importance of the sacraments in our lives - particularly in light of the Bible verse that says, “There is but one mediator between God and man, the man, Christ Jesus.”
Published 12/01/23
Fr. Stephen Freeman looks at our transformation into the image of Christ and the forgiveness of our sins in terms of concrete reality - thinking through the work that God is doing in us.
Published 10/13/23
It is one thing to believe that God exists. But beyond that, it is important, even vital, that God is good. Fr. Stephen Freeman explores this importance.
Published 09/11/23
Fr. Stephen Freeman reflects on the nature of the Kingdom of God and its distinct reality when compared to the wars and struggles of the secularized world.
Published 09/02/23
We rarely think of God as meek. Instead, we picture Him as mighty, powerful, and overwhelming. Fr. Stephen Freeman looks at a number of clear indications in Scripture concerning what we know of God through the revelation of Christ. God is meek.
Published 05/11/23
Ever wonder what the phrase, “the Divine Energies,” means? Fr. Stephen looks at its inner depths and its constant place in our lives. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! His mercy endures forever!
Published 12/15/22
Fr. Stephen Freeman offers some honest thoughts on the sacrament of marriage and its importance in our culture.
Published 10/03/22
Fr. Stephen speaks of the difficulties and trials of those coming to faith in God and the challenges facing our children.
Published 09/16/22
Fr. Stephen Freeman speaks on icons as doors that open onto other rooms. He also speaks about how we view evil in this understanding of God's world.
Published 09/07/22
Fr. Stephen looks at Orthodoxy and our lives as a matter of the "whole" truth, rather than a "one-sidedness." He urges us to press forward into the whole truth of Christ.
Published 08/26/22
In this podcast, Fr. Stephen speaks about the Orthodox use of the word "fullness," both as a description of the Church but also, and especially, as a description of what we long for in the Christian life.
Published 08/25/22
Fr. Stephen Freeman describes a reading project, comparing the writings of Richard Leigh Fermor (1933), to those of Nick Hunt (2011) as they made walks across Europe. Fermor's descriptions belong to a world that has disappeared, while those of Hunt seem thin and attenuated. They point towards much deeper realities of our modern world.
Published 08/24/22
Fr. Stephen Freeman offers thoughts on the virtue of contentment and its place in the spiritual life.
Published 08/01/22
Fr. Stephen Freeman offers some thoughts on one of the more common Morning Prayers for the Orthodox, in which we pray, “O Lord, Save me whether I want it or not.” It is a hopeful meditation.
Published 07/15/22
Fr. Stephen Freeman examines in some depth why success and progress are not the right measures of the spiritual life.
Published 12/25/21
Community is rooted in a mutual need, and so depends on our weakness. Fr. Stephen Freeman tells us that this is God's intention for the Church.
Published 12/25/21
"It's not until we cease to divide the world into ordinary and extraordinary, into usual and unusual, into sacred and secular, that we will have either the possibility of knowing God, much less living the Christian life." — Fr. Stephen Freeman
Published 12/25/21
Fr. Stephen Freeman looks at the notion of "allegory" as it is used in the New Testament and in the Orthodox worldview. He also considers the true nature of "literalism" and how we should understand it.
Published 12/22/21
The Orthodox understanding of the spiritual life is unlike most things that we think about in our culture. There is not a "technique" that produces "results." Instead, it is a way of life. Fr. Stephen Freeman explores this understanding.
Published 10/30/21
Fr. Stephen Freeman looks at the role of knowledge in our Orthodox faith, including the importance of what we do not know.
Published 10/09/21
Across all human cultures, there is a drive to clothe ourselves, to decorate ourselves, far beyond any concern for mere warmth and protection. Fr. Stephen Freeman examines this cultural drive from a theological perspective. It sheds light on the deepest part of our life and illumines our relationship with Christ.
Published 10/02/21
In the liturgy we pray that we have a "Christian ending to our life: painless, unashamed, and peaceful; and a good defense before the dread judgment seat of Christ." Father Stephen Freeman looks carefully at the true nature of that judgment seat. It might surprise you.
Published 09/24/21