Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?
Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge.
Even all the hairs of your head are counted.
So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
We're familiar with the lovely spiritual, His eye is on the sparrow:
Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart feel lonely
And long for heaven and home
When Jesus is my portion
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart feel lonely
And long for heaven and home
When Jesus is my portion
A constant friend is he
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches over me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches over me
Hearing today's gospel, it's good to notice the context of Jesus' remarks about two sparrows and the hairs of your head. He is telling his disciples to expect resistance, hostility, disappointment and frustration because you belong to the Lord.. If they mistreat the master they will mistreat his disciples!
If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul,
how much more those of his household!
But, he says, "do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul! ....His eye is on the sparrow." His eye is on you.
During this post-Christian era when many people profess no religion and identify with no Christian tradition, we should recognize how these fond, familiar images of God's love belong to us, his church. Not everyone feels consoled by Pentecostal, Christian, or Catholic songs.They do not feel the religious resonance of expressions like "the birds of the air" or "lilies of the field." We may be willing to share this birthright but we should not suppose "nones" will experience the same consolation.
In many cases, persons who answer "none" when asked about their religion, feel alienated by a lack of knowledge about our teachings or disagreement with them. But this points to the religious overemphasis on our religious teachings. Many Catholics and Christians seem to think belonging is about agreeing and disagreement is estrangement.
Does a child have to agree with her mother before her mother will feed, clothe, shelter or comfort the child? Can a son belong to his father's family if he disagrees with his politics or religion, or cheers for another basketball team?
Our teachings are important; they unite our prayers with common understandings as our symbols provide a common language. They provide guidance for the difficult moral/ethical decisions we must make in a complex world. But teachings and symbols are not meant to divide us.
Anyone who finds comfort with us belong to us. If you, as a Christian, believe God's eye is on the sparrow, your gaze welcomes your relative, friend and neighbor. "You still belong to us." you say, "....we still claim you as beloved!"
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.