PODCAST · religion
The Ladder Homilies
by The Ladder
The Ladder: Homilies is a collection of sermons from Malankara Orthodox parishes across the United States, sharing the timeless wisdom of the Orthodox Church for today’s world. Rooted in Scripture and the living tradition of the Church, these homilies invite listeners to ascend the spiritual ladder — growing in faith, repentance, and love for God.
Episodes
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The Heart of Conflict - Rev. Fr. Vijay Thomas
Family Fights, Covetousness, and True Peace in Christ Vijay Achen reflects on a gospel passage where a man asks Jesus to force his brother to divide an inheritance, and Jesus warns against covetousness—the craving for more or for what belongs to others. He explains that conflicts, whether in...
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Why are you Orthodox? - Rev. Fr. Abey George
The speaker reflects on how only about 4% of people are born into an Orthodox family and says many cradle Orthodox don’t appreciate the faith, contrasting this with seminary converts who value Orthodoxy deeply. Citing early Church saints like St. Irenaeus of Lyons and St. Basil the Great, he...
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Shifting Our Attention - Dr. Annah Kuriakose
Shifting Our Attention to God's True Teaching (Matthew 16:5–12) What are you paying attention to, and what is it teaching you? Jesus warns His disciples about the "yeast" of the Pharisees and Sadducees, and they think He's talking about bread. If those closest to Jesus could miss the point, so…
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Your Eyes - Rev. Fr. Gheevarghese John
The speaker opens with a Trinitarian prayer and invites everyone to recognize how precious their eyes are as a gift from God, given to behold the beauty of creation and sense the presence of Christ in the divine mysteries and Holy Qurbana. He explains that eyes are not only for seeing but can…
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Be Vigilant - His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos
In this homily for the first Sunday after the Feast of the Exaltation of the Life-Saving Cross, the speaker reflects on Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel of Saint Mark about discerning the “signs” in nature, using the fig tree as an example of recognizing changing seasons. He explains that while...
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Stop Calling Them Your Enemy - Rev. Dn. Shojil Abraham
Finding Peace Within During the 40 Days to the Holy Cross In a sermon during the 40 days from the Feast of the Transfiguration to the Feast of the Holy Cross, the speaker addresses how people often claim they have no enemies yet treat relatives, neighbors, God, or even themselves as enemies.…
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A God that Permits Pain - Rev. Fr. Vijay Thomas
Reflecting on Jesus’ words that a lit lamp is not hidden, this episode explains that God did not hide His Son—the light of the world—citing Saint Cyril of Alexandria on Christ rescuing humanity from Satanic darkness. It asks why a good and almighty God permits darkness, pain, and tragedy,...
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Cornerstone - Rev. Fr. Vijay Thomas
Is Jesus Still Remarkable? Returning to Routine with Christ as the Cornerstone As summer ends and September routines return, the speaker asks whether Jesus Christ also returns to a normal place in our schedules—and whether we still remember who we are praying to. Reflecting on the Gospel where...
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Christian Imagination - Dr. Annah Kuriakose
In this sermon, the speaker reflects on moral philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre’s claim that we can only answer “What am I to do?” by first knowing what story we are part of, illustrating it with the difference between moving through New York City as a tourist versus a marathon runner. Turning to…
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3 Seeds - Rev. Fr. Vijay Thomas
During Holy Qurbana alongside a harvest celebration, the Vijay Achen connects harvest festivals to Scripture, emphasizing that before any harvest there is seedtime and that God gives the growth. Citing Genesis, Mark 4, Galatians, and John 12, he explains what a seed is—holding within it what it...
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Clearing Our Conscience - His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos
Following the Feast of the Dormition of the Holy Theotokos and moving toward the Exaltation of the Cross, this episode reflects on a passage from Saint Luke in which Jesus addresses criticism and hypocrisy amid opposition from Hebrew leaders. Using the image of a log in one’s own eye versus a…
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Did You Wash Your Plate? - Rev. Fr. Sujit Thomas
A Simple Lesson in Serving at Home Sujit Achen reflects on the importance of age-appropriate service and recalls attending an MGOCSM conference about 25 years ago where Kuriakose Achen led the audience through a simple exercise: stand if you ate dinner at home the day before, then sit if you…
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The Odysseus Contract and the Gospel - Rev. Fr. Vijay Thomas
The message explains the “Ulysses contract” from the Odyssey—Odysseus having his crew tie him to the mast to resist the sirens—as a picture of admitting human weakness and setting boundaries to avoid temptation, like removing junk food to prevent failure. It then connects this idea to the Gospel...
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Belief About God vs Belief in God - Rev. Fr. Abey George
This episode reflects on Jesus’ scandalous warning that tax collectors and prostitutes enter the Kingdom ahead of religious leaders, explaining that repentance and transformed life matter more than intellectual religion. It challenges listeners to examine whether faith has become a “comfort…
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Eternal Life - Rev. Fr. V. M. Shibu
Eternal Life: What the Rich Ruler Missed and Zacchaeus Found (Luke 18:18–27) This Sunday message reflects on Luke 18:18–27, where a rich young ruler asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life and is told to keep the commandments and then sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him, but he...
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Continuing the Apostolic Tradition - Rev. Fr. V. M. Shibu
Why Jesus Stayed 40 Days After the Resurrection: The Birth of Apostolic Tradition Why did Jesus remain on earth for forty days after his resurrection? This episode explains that his main purpose was to teach the disciples the mysteries of the Kingdom of God and establish the apostolic tradition....
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The Transfiguration - Rev. Fr. Abey George
Feast of the Transfiguration: Christ Reveals His Divinity—and Our Calling to Become Truly Human This episode reflects on the Orthodox Feast of the Transfiguration, where Christ took Peter, James, and John to Mount Tabor and revealed His uncreated light, showing that He is fully God and fully man....
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Cut it Out - Rev. Fr. Sujit Thomas
Drawing from a personal story about discovering and removing a foreign lung nodule, this episode explains Jesus’ harsh-sounding gospel command to cut off a hand or foot or pluck out an eye if it causes stumbling as deliberate hyperbole calling for serious spiritual action. The message stresses…
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Maranatha - Rev. Fr. Vijay Thomas
Reflecting on Luke 14, the speaker explains Jesus’ lesson at a feast: instead of taking the best seat like the world encourages, Christians are called to humility—“those who humble themselves will be exalted.” He outlines spiritual growth from acting out of fear of shame or punishment, to…
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The Pilgrimage Toward Perfection - His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos
In this closing message from the Family and Youth Conference, the speaker reflects on the pilgrimage theme and Jesus’ teaching from Matthew 5 on loving enemies, challenging common assumptions that shape relationships through family feuds, politics, religion, and ignorance. He shares personal and...
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Approaching Holy Qurbana - Rev. Fr. Abey George
Approaching Holy Qurbana with Humility, Repentance, and Gratitude This episode explains that no one is truly worthy to receive Holy Qurbana—not even the priest—and that the proper posture is to admit our unworthiness with repentance and humility. It warns against self-righteous thinking that...
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The God I Believe In - Rev. Fr. Vijay Thomas
What kind of God do you believe in? A distant judge? A demanding ruler? N.T. Wright once told an atheist, "I don't believe in that God either." So who is the God of the Bible? In this sermon from Hebrews 4:15–16 and the Parable of the Sower, we discover a God who enters our weakness — and who...
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Don't Fear Change - Rev. Dn. Mathew Varughese
The speaker reflects on times people argue confidently only to discover they were wrong, then connects this to an intense Gospel of Mark encounter where Christ’s miracles and Sabbath healings draw some closer while Jerusalem’s elders reject Him for not matching their expectations of the Messiah....
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A House Divided - Rev. Fr. Vijay Thomas
This episode offers a deeper perspective on Mark 3:20–30, where scribes accuse Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebub and Jesus answers with the logic that “a house divided against itself cannot stand,” a line later quoted by Abraham Lincoln. The speaker connects the crowded house in Capernaum…
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Bad Busyness - Rev. Dn. Shojil Abraham
Why do so many people answer “busy” when asked how they’re doing, and when can busyness become an addiction that pulls us away from God and neighbor? This episode contrasts “bad busyness” that looks productive or even spiritual yet neglects prayer and worship, comes from proving ourselves or...
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How old is God? - Rev. Fr. Vijay Thomas
America just turned 250—and it makes you feel how fast everything passes. But what happens when you zoom out from 250 years, to St. Thomas touching the risen Christ and declaring “My Lord and my God,” to Abraham, to the 4.5-billion-year age of the earth? This episode asks one deceptively simple...
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Fearless Faith - His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos
Reflecting on the feast of St. Thomas, the speaker revisits John’s account of the disciples hiding behind locked doors out of fear and highlights Thomas’ fearlessness in searching for the risen Lord. Rather than condemning Thomas’ demand to see and touch Jesus’ wounds, Jesus returns and invites…
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George Washington, Jesus, and Servant Leadership - Rev. Fr. Vijay Thomas
This episode reflects on what historians call George Washington’s greatest act: giving up power after two terms even though the Constitution set no limit, warning that “the line between a president and a king is at best faint.” Using the idea that power is addictive, the message explores how…
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Silence Over Hustle - Rev. Fr. Sujit Thomas
This episode reflects on how modern life equates worth with productivity, placing intense pressure on people from childhood through academic achievement and constant accomplishment. It also highlights how distractions—especially phones—keep us from focusing on what matters most and from spending...
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How to address the "I will do what I want" attitude - Rev. Fr. Abey George
What does it really mean to follow Christ? In John 6, Jesus declares, "I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." If even the Son willingly submits to the Father's will, what does that mean for our own lives? This homily explores the struggle between…
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The Value System of the Kingdom - His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos
On the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, we hear Christ's surprising words: "Blessed are the poor, the hungry, those who weep, and those who are rejected." In a world that measures success by wealth, comfort, popularity, and power, Jesus reveals a completely different set of values—the values of…
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The Promise in Our Hands - Rev. Fr. Vijay Thomas
A homily on John 6:35–46 that draws a sharp parallel between King Jeroboam's rejection of God's promise (driven by fear and the desire for convenience) and our own tendency to chase insecurity, anxiety, idols, and pride instead of coming to Christ, the Bread of Life. Like Jeroboam, who held a...
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From the Apostles to Our Families - Rev. Dn. Shojil Abraham
In this Sunday homily, we reflect on the mission Christ gave His apostles and the inheritance they handed down to the Church. The apostles passed on a life centered on Jesus Christ—a life marked by prayer, humility, forgiveness, sacrifice, and divine love. Yet the world offers a different...
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Traveling Light - His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos
This homily reflects on Christ's instructions to His disciples as He sends them into the world following the renewal of Pentecost. While the Gospel begins with a mission to the lost sheep of Israel, its deeper message is about the heart of Christian discipleship: learning to trust God completely....
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Are we peacemakers? - Rev. Fr. Abey George
Why is it often easier to appear peaceful in public than to live as peacemakers at home? In this homily, Fr. Abey reflects on Christ's words, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God,” and challenges us to examine whether we bring peace or conflict into our...
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The Fruit That Justifies Wisdom - Rev. Fr. Vijay Thomas
In this sermon on Luke 7:35, we reflect on Jesus’ words: “Wisdom is justified by her children.” What does it mean to justify wisdom? What kind of fruit are we called to bear in our lives — especially when we’re facing struggles in marriage, family, or personal hardship? Drawing from the teachings...
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Spiritually Mature - Rev. Fr. Vijay Thomas
If you've ever felt disheartened with the Church, with yourself, or unsure of where your faith is headed — this homily is for you. Drawing from Luke 7 and the writing of St. John Chrysostom, Fr. Vijay reminds us that spiritual maturity is not the absence of struggle. It is the decision to keep...
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Trusting God on the Journey - His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos
In this homily on the Gospel of St. Matthew, we reflect on Christ sending out His disciples with nothing but trust in the One who called them. Why would Jesus command them to travel without money, security, or even a walking stick? What does this radical dependence mean for Christians today? This...
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Theosis - Rev. Fr. Abey George
In the days between Ascension and Pentecost, the Church places before us the High Priestly Prayer of Christ from the Gospel of St. John — a prayer that reveals the deepest desire of God for humanity. Jesus does not pray for comfort, success, or worldly blessings. He prays “that they all may be…
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What Are We Really Seeking? - His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos
On the first Sunday after Pentecost, we reflect on Christ’s words in St. John 6, where He challenges the crowds who followed Him not because they recognized the signs of God, but because they “ate the bread and were filled.” This homily explores the subtle ways our faith can become centered on...
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Eyes Opened on the Road - Rev. Fr. Roby Antony
In this homily on the Road to Emmaus, we reflect on why Luke and Cleopas could walk beside Christ and still fail to recognize Him. Their physical eyes worked, but their spiritual eyes were restrained. Through the Scriptures, the breaking of bread, and their desire to remain in Christ’s presence,...
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Saved and Being Saved - Rev. Fr. Vijay Thomas
Between Ascension and Pentecost, the Church enters a strange season of waiting. But why do we wait for the Holy Spirit when the Spirit is already among us? This homily reflects on the Orthodox understanding of the Christian life as both fulfilled and still unfolding — saved and being saved,...
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Protected for a Purpose - His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos
On the Sunday before Pentecost, this homily reflects on Christ’s prayer in John 17 and what it means to live in the world without belonging to it. Drawing from the story of Saint George, the message challenges Christians to stop negotiating with evil and instead receive the courage of the Holy...
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Focus and Purpose - Rev. Fr. Vijay Thomas
Why does the Church return to Luke 9 during the season of Resurrection? In this powerful homily, the focus turns to Christ “setting His face toward Jerusalem” and what that reveals about the heart of salvation. From the Cross to the Ascension and ultimately to Pentecost, Jesus remains unwavering…
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When Love Is Tested - His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos
Peter’s journey reveals a faith marked by zeal, failure, and restoration. In this homily, we are invited to examine our own relationship with Christ: Is our love conditional, or is it rooted in true commitment? Through Christ’s repeated question—“Do you love Me more than these?”—we are called to...
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3 Simple Things to Find God - Rev. Fr. Vijay Thomas
In this homily on Luke 24:13–35, we are reminded that the Road to Emmaus is not just a story about two disciples—it is our story. When we feel confused, distracted, or distant from God, Christ is already walking with us. Through prayer, Scripture, and the Holy Qurbana, our hearts are awakened and...
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"We Had Hoped" - His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos
What happens when our hopes in God seem unfulfilled? In this homily on the Road to Emmaus, His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos reflects on how disappointment can blind us to Christ’s presence. He calls us to rediscover Him through Scripture, the Eucharist, and the practice of hospitality, where...
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Follow Me Again - His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos
In this post-Resurrection reflection, we are confronted with the reality of fluctuating faith—how easily our spiritual fervor rises during Lent and peaks at Pascha, only to fade soon after. Centered on Christ’s deeply personal exchange with Peter in the Gospel of John, this homily explores the...
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You're Not Done After Easter - Rev. Dn. Shojil Abraham
In this reflection on the season of the Resurrection, we are reminded that Pascha is not the end of the journey, but the beginning of a renewed life in Christ. Moving beyond the mindset that Easter concludes Lent, this homily calls us to embrace a deeper, ongoing repentance—one that takes on a…
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Faith is Good, Love is Better - Rev. Fr. Abey George
In this powerful reflection on the post-Resurrection encounter between Christ and Peter, we are challenged to move beyond mere belief into transformative love. While Peter had faith, it was his love that Christ ultimately sought to restore. Through this question—“Do you love Me?”—we are invited…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Ladder: Homilies is a collection of sermons from Malankara Orthodox parishes across the United States, sharing the timeless wisdom of the Orthodox Church for today’s world. Rooted in Scripture and the living tradition of the Church, these homilies invite listeners to ascend the spiritual ladder — growing in faith, repentance, and love for God.
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The Ladder
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Ladder Homilies have?
The Ladder Homilies currently has 118 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Ladder Homilies about?
The Ladder: Homilies is a collection of sermons from Malankara Orthodox parishes across the United States, sharing the timeless wisdom of the Orthodox Church for today’s world. Rooted in Scripture and the living tradition of the Church, these homilies invite listeners to ascend the spiritual ladder...
How often does The Ladder Homilies release new episodes?
The Ladder Homilies publishes regularly with 118 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Ladder Homilies?
You can listen to The Ladder Homilies on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Ladder Homilies?
The Ladder Homilies is created and hosted by The Ladder.
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