RBWords

     In the U.S.A. and elsewhere, a story about a lone hero battling against overwhelming odds will always get an audience.  In the context of our faith, the figure of David battling against Goliath is one that could be applied to many different "battles."  Those who, for example, become active in defending the rights of the unborn child or advocating for non-violence of any kind can easily feel that they are up against a foe much larger and stronger than they.  It takes a great deal of faith to continue that struggle day in and day out.  Pastors can find themselves frustrated by cultural/athletic events that continually erode the Sunday observance.  David faced Goliath in one battle.  The battle to defend human dignity and life goes on and on and on......

     The umbrella term for much of the trouble is "secularism."  Like the Greek mythological monster, the Hydra, this foe has many "heads," and when one cuts one head off, many others replace it.  David had only one head to cut off!  To all those who work actively in efforts to defend the right to life for ALL humans from womb to tomb, the story of a sparrow, one I use in parish missions, can be helpful.  The sparrow hears from "Chicken-licken" that the sky is going to fall.  So the sparrow lies down and pushes her little feet upward with great effort.  A passer-by sees this and asks the sparrow what she is doing.  She replies, "I heard the sky is going to fall and I'm holding it up with my feet!"  The passer-by replies, "Sparrow! Do you think you can hold up the sky with your little feet?"  The sparrow answers, "One does what one can!"  David had only a few river rocks and did what he could.  So can we!  AMEN