Word to the Wise
Friday, October 20, 2017 - Friday in the 28th Week in Ordinary Time
[Rom 4:1-8 and Luke 12:1-7]FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017. ST. PAUL OF THE CROSS, C.P. [Romans 4:1-8 and Luke 12:1-7] "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." [Luke] To capture the context of Jesus' image of the sparrows, one probably needs to imagine a market place in the Mediterranean region with all the bustling and shouting and booths of vendors. One of the booths may have cages of sparrows for sale. I'm not so sure sparrows would be part of my diet, but I suspect that could be their fate. As small and insignificant as they are, they are in God's providence. I am pretty sure there are far more sparrows than hairs on my bald head, but God watches over birds and hairs alike! As I continue into elderhood, (I am 74) God's providence becomes ever more prominent. Those who count words in the Bible say that God's most frequent message is: "Do not be afraid!" I am told today that my gray hairs are worth more than sparrow feathers. I take that on faith and do my best to be comfortable with it. It certainly beats being afraid of all the challenges of growing older. AMEN