Let Him Who Has Ears, Hear

Speaker: Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines

July 20, 2026

in Spritual Growth

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July 19, 2026:

Readings: Song of Solomon 6:1-3
Romans 8:18-25
Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43

8th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2026 Homily – Abp. Hines

Christ again shares with us about His love, compassion and commitment towards man. But there is little that we really know about Him. There is just one thing He said, “Follow Me.” He did not say, “Follow a certain religion.” When God created man, man could have everything he wanted, except to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. That was the only rule. The only restriction. But man disobeyed and suffered the consequences. Sin then entered into the world.

But Christ came to redeem us, gave us holiness and righteousness, took away the sin problem. And yet there are those who have not received this and has rejected Him. Psalm 78: 1-4 “Listen, dear friends, to God’s truth, bend your ears to what I tell you. I’m chewing on the morsel of a proverb; I’ll let you in on the sweet old truths,Stories we heard from our fathers, counsel we learned at our mother’s knee. We’re not keeping this to ourselves, we’re passing it along to the next generation— God’s fame and fortune, the marvelous things he has done.” Are we seeking and searching? Christ talks to us in parables. Ephesians 3:8 “To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God’s consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out].” The mysteries of Christ are there because they are for our benefit. Romans 16:25 “Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past.” Jesus is revealing Himself to us. When He ascended into heaven, He gave gifts to us. Many people do not realize that humanity has been humanity has been redeemed. He has completed the work of redemption by restoring us back to the Father.

The Parable today is about “The Parable of the Weeds or Tares. It tells us of a farmer who planted seeds and relates how servants who were eager to pull up weeds alongside the wheat were warned that in so doing they would root out the wheat as well and were told to let both grow together until harvest time. If we really pay attention to His Word, we will be aware that the church has the responbility of being the Ambassadors of Christ. “Let the wheat and the tares grow together.” God will take out the tares first, put them in bundles, and throw them into the fire. Who are the tares? Tares are children of the wicked. John 8:44 “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Our identity should be of those who are following Christ. We’ve been granted to know the mysteries of the Kingdom. Matthew tells us we are to be like Him. The Parable tells us that the field represents the world, the good seeds come from the Father, the tares from the devil. We need to live out the teachings of Christ. Even when we make mistakes, we still follow Christ. “Let him who has ears, hear!” Revelation 20:1-3 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. Revelation 22:1-3 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.

We must go through difficulty if we want to grow. We need to make a choice. Are we going to follow Him or are we going to do things our own way? God gives us opportunities to change. This is how much God loves us. His mercy and compassion will prevail. He will take away the tares first. He will take away the evil first, put them in bundles to be thrown into the fire. The Parables were given to us because the time had not yet come.