Growing In Christ Through His Word

Speaker: Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines

July 13, 2026

in Spritual Growth

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July 12, 2026

Readings: Isaiah 55:1-5, 10-13
Romans 8:9-17
Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23

7th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2026 Homily – Abp. Hines

Do we realize that God cares for us so much and yet there is little effort on our part to try and really understand all that He is to us? Imagine sending His only Son to redeem us. Just the mere knowledge of this is in itself such a blessing. For some strange reason, though, we give more weight to our problems than see the blessings. Psalm 65:3, 9 “When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.” “You visit the earth and cause it to overflow; You greatly enrich it; The stream of God is full of water; You prepare their grain, for so You prepare the earth.” Do we realize these things? Do we see the good? Isaiah 55:1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”

Today’s Gospel shows us how blessed we are. It is so necessary for us to understand that God has not given up on us. Christ came to live like man. He faced problems and temptations just like us. But He had a plan. For 30 years, He prepared Himself for ministry work. Because of His relationship with the Father, He became very equipped. Often times, He would be sharing the knowledge of God in the synagogue. And it came to a point that He was no longer welcomed because the Pharisees and Scribes were intimidated by His wisdom. They were envious of Him. So Christ would go out into the open to minister. He would go to the mountain, the fields where there was green grass, He would preach by the seashore where one could smell the freshness of the air. It was like Him saying, no longer should God’s Word be confined within four walls. No longer should it be isolated, but should be out in the open. He had more people coming to hear Him speak than people going inside the synagogue. Similarly, we have confined ourselves to our own understanding, rather than to listen to Him. He was wanting to show us that there’s beauty out in the open air where God’s creation can be felt. In His ministry, He did not apply “ceremony.” He used a teaching style that people could comprehend and relate to. The Pharisees and Scribes tried to stop the people from going to Jesus, but no one could stop them from going. The synagogue was rigid. There was no life. Jesus’ words were filled with life and hope. He used parables to teach the people. He went down to the level of understanding of the people so that they could grasp the meaning of what He was saying.

He begins with the Parable of the Sower; He talks about a sower who went out to sow. This is a description of a sower scattering seed, which lands on four types of soil—representing the different ways people receive the word of God. Jesus here was actually preaching about the Kingdom: Some seeds fell by the road, and the birds immediately came and ate them up. This means that a person who hears the message but does not understand it. The “evil one” comes and snatches the message away before it can take root. Some seeds fell on rocky ground. While It may spring up quickly, it also withers quickly in the sun because it lacks deep roots. This represents someone who receives the message, but immediately stumbles when faced with hardship or persecution because their faith lacks depth. Then there were seeds falling among thorns, which grew up and choked the young plant so it yields no grain. This is like a person who hears the word, but allows it to be choked out by the worries of life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things. But then there were seeds that fell on good soil and the ground was fertile because it had been meticulously prepared.These seeds take root, and produce an abundant harvest. This represents a person who hears the message, truly understands it, takes it to heart and applies what he has heard in his life, eventually producing a fruitful and transformative life.

Do we really strive to seek the truth? Or are we embattled with the things of this world? There is a need for preparation. In order to receive the Word of God, we have to listen, nurture, water it, take care of the soil in our hearts. This is our part in order to receive God’s Word. And God will cause it to grow.