Word to the Wise
Friday, October 17, 2008 - Friday in the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
[Ephesians 1:11-14 and Luke 12:1-17]Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows!
Each morning, as I conclude my early walk and rosary, I fill the bird feeders outside my little house. I've spoken about the providence of God and God's care for the birds before from this cyberpulpit. But when there is mention of the sparrows, it almost gets personal because they are the principal beneficiaries of my bird feeders! The gospel speaks of them as being somewhat insignificant because they are so cheap. The Jerome Biblical Commentary brings me up very short when it clarifies the reference as being "the cheapest thing on the MENU!" Hmmmmm.....my interest in culinary arts does not extend to my fine feathered friends in the yard. (However, it might extend to the Angus cows in the pasture next door!) All of this might seem rather whimsical were it not accompanied by the admonition, "Do not be afraid! You are worth more than many sparrows!" Given the feast day of St. Ignatius of Antioch, whom legend says was fed to the lions, one might be tempted to respond in the style of the comic, Bill Cosby, "Yeah! Right!" The community in the Gospel of Luke had real persecution to be afraid of, much like some of our brothers and sisters in India and Iraq are experiencing as I write this! Could I ever experience the fear that they must be experiencing? The sparrows are a constant reminder of the value of life of all human persons - womb to tomb! God's love is the guarantee of their value! It's nice to know that God may have counted the hairs on my head (not as difficult as it used to be), but it is more than nice to know that God loves me and all others along with the sparrows! AMEN