The Kingdom Of Heaven As Seen Through Parables

Speaker: Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines

July 27, 2026

in Spritual Growth

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July 26, 2026

Readings: 1 Kings 3:5-12
Romans 8:26-34
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-49a

9th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2026 Homily – Abp. Hines

Each week, Christ gives us instructions for our guidance on how to live. But have we really sought Him? Colossians 1:19 “For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him. “Colossians 1:22 “Yet He has now reconciled you in His body of flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.”

We need to know who we are in Him, believing that whatever He has done is for us. The Lord should be 1st place in our lives. When are we going to realize who we really are in Christ? Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

We are to prove God’s greatness to the world. Even before we were born, He already gave us hope. John 1:16 “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. Colossians 2:3 “In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” The Kingdom of heaven is here among us and yet we battle and struggle due to unbelief. Life will be different if we live in the kingdom. Instead, we find ourselves anxious and fearful rather to believe that Christ is with us.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed tells us that the kingdom of heaven is compared to a tiny seed that is capable of growing into a large plant or even the largest tree. The mustard seed is very small, but when it grows, it becomes the largest of garden plants, turning into a tree or large shrub. It grows big enough that wild birds come and build nests in its branches. It is showing us that small actions, kind deeds, or a tiny bit of faith can grow into huge, life-changing results. We have been blessed by the Lord, yet we put more confidence in the blessings of the world. The Parable of the Leaven- Like the parable of the mustard seed, the parable of the leaven teaches that the kingdom of heaven begins small and hidden but grows with a mysterious, transforming power. It is where God’s principles are present. As we meditate upon His principles, it will change our lives. We need to accept God’s gifts. They are given to all. He has given us peace, wisdom, strength, joy. It is necessary for us to get rid of many things in our lives. The Parable of the Pearl (also called the Pearl of Great Price) tells of a merchant looking for fine pearls, who finds one very special pearl, sells everything he owns, and buys it. This pearl, like the kingdom of God has more value than anything else on Earth.

If you have given much to a person freely and voluntarily, and that person is ungrateful, how hurting that would be to the giver. We cry out to God, pleading and begging for blessings He has already blessed us with. Are we grateful when we receive them? The Parable of the Dragnet compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a large fishing net. Cast into the sea, it indiscriminately gathers all kinds of fish. Upon reaching shore, fishermen sort the catch—keeping the good in vessels and discarding the bad. At the end of the age, angels will come and separate the good fish from the bad. God will instruct His angels to carry out the divine judgment, casting the wicked away while the righteous are preserved in God’s eternal Kingdom. God gives us opportunities to turn our lives around. We still hold on to what we have, not realizing God has already given blessings to us. We’ve been given peace and yet we don’t see it. Our problems overcome us, because our focus is on the problems. We hear the Word and yet we do not believe or accept it by faith. God has healed our diseases, but do we have the faith to believe this? We have been blessed by God and yet the world does not see this because we don’t live it out.

The Holy Spirit will teach us all things. One finest example was the Apostle Paul, who spent many years in the wilderness and was taught by the Holy Spirit. Perhaps the cause of our delays in our asking from God is the clashing of our mind and heart because they are not one. Remember that all things are possible if only we believe.