Why Aren’t You Growing Spiritually? Humility, Love & the Holy Spirit

Published 1 hour ago

Why does spiritual growth sometimes seem to stop—even when we attend church, pray, and hear the Gospel regularly? This Catholic homily explores the Parable of the Sower and the two foundations of a fruitful Christian life: love of God and humility.

Beginning with the image of a dying tree, the sermon asks us to examine the condition of our spiritual roots. Have worldly concerns, distractions, and attachments prevented God’s Word from taking deeper root in our hearts?

Drawing on St. Catherine of Siena’s image of a tree, the homily presents love as the root and humility as the soil in which it grows. When we humbly open ourselves to God and cooperate with His grace, the Holy Spirit brings forth lasting fruit.

St. Paul’s teaching in Galatians 5 offers an examination of our spiritual lives: are we growing in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? The invitation is to seek an interior transformation that reaches beyond outward appearances.

We cannot manufacture holiness through willpower alone. God gives the growth. Our response is to turn toward Him with humility, deepen our love for Him, and faithfully cooperate with the work of His Holy Spirit.

00:00 Sponsor message
00:15 A dying tree and its damaged roots
01:34 What is poisoning our spiritual growth?
01:55 The Parable of the Sower
02:26 Different responses to the Gospel
03:09 Hearing God’s Word without being changed
03:44 A message for believers who feel spiritually stuck
04:17 Can our spiritual lives become fruitful again?
04:43 The difference between immature and mature fruit
05:32 Good soil and strong roots
06:07 Love of God: the root of spiritual life
06:34 St. Catherine of Siena’s tree analogy
07:18 Humility: the soil where love grows
07:52 Two foundations: love and humility
08:11 The Holy Spirit brings forth fruit
09:12 How to recognize spiritual fruit
09:35 The fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5
10:31 Why outward behavior alone is not enough
11:22 Examining the fruit within your soul
11:38 God is the one who gives the growth
12:04 Turning our attention toward God
12:48 Authentic transformation through the Holy Spirit
13:23 Renewing our roots through humility and love
14:00 Closing praise
14:18 Closing chant
14:24 App announcement and sponsors