The Least In The Kingdom is Greatest

Speaker: Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines

December 15, 2025

in Spritual Growth

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December 14, 2025

Readings: Isaiah 35:1-10
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11

3rd Sunday of Advent 2025 Homily – Abp. Hines

Few of us truly understand God’s divine plan for us. Nothing happens that He does not know about. How could He allow evil, we ask. It’s not so much of Him approving but more of Him allowing certain things to take place in order that good will come out of it. We don’t see things righteously but what God wants us to understand is that He has a plan. Sad to say, we don’t really listen to what God is telling us. The Collect of the day tells us that before His first coming, He sent His messenger to prepare for His coming. Likewise, we are to be His messengers to prepare for His 2nd Coming. Advent is our preparation for an event that is yet to come. Yes, we do celebrate Christmas and that’s important, but we need to see beyond and prepare for the 2nd coming. Has the world today taken over the church or should the church take over the world. Jesus had to be baptized because He was setting a pattern. If we do not know the Old Testament, we will not understand the New.

In Biblical history, this takes us back to the time of Noah who was given specific instructions to build an ark. Up until this time, there had never been any rain. No one had ever seen rain. The people were mocking Noah, partying, marrying and giving in marriage. But when the rain came and caused a great flood, every single person who was mocking Noah drowned. Only Noah and his family and the animals were saved. Isaiah 35: 2 “It will blossom profusely and rejoice with joy and jubilation. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, The majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, The majesty of our God.” Isaiah 35:8 “A highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for the one who walks that way, and fools will not wander on it.” Deuteronomy 33:7 “And this was regarding Judah; so he said: “Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him to his people. With his hands he contended for them, And may You be a help against his adversaries.”

Are we using our God-given authority? Or do we give in and succumb to unrighteousness? We must not return evil for evil. We are to proclaim God’s Kingdom and bring forth God’s righteousness. What image are we portraying? The people left the beauty of the temple and went to the wilderness to listen to John, who did not wear fancy garments but told the truth. So should it be with us, it’s not the place that we want to go to, it’s not the fancy garments and the vestments, it’s because we want to hear the Lord. John the Baptist may not have done miracles, because His ministry was to baptize people, cause them to repent, therefore opening the door for the Way of the Lord to be made possible. Today we have the Holy Spirit to help us carry out His Gospel Message, to proclaim God’s message in our lives. Even when Adam committed treason. God did not destroy him, although Adam had literally given his power to the enemy. We are human and we make mistakes, but He came to restore us by destroying the works of the enemy.

We will become strong if we follow Christ. We are ambassadors of Christ and are supposed to defend the Kingdom and proclaim His greatness. We do not need to defend ourselves. God, through His Spirit is doing a great work and it is vital that we are part of it.