Keep Your Eye On the Sparrow this Holy Week
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So, do not be afraid: you are of more value than many sparrows." —Matthew 10:29-31.
Kathleen Battle
On June 7, 2017, in an issue of The Christian Century titled “Thinking Critically, Living Faithfully,” Liddy Barlow, executive minister of Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania, was the guest preacher discussing the sparrow text from Matthew. She mentions the lawyer Kenneth Feinberg, who chaired the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund, which distributed money to the families of those who died in the terrorist attack using a formula based on each victim's income and earning potential. The compensation ranged from $250,000 to $7.1 million. Feinberg struggles with this differentiation at the end of the process, as he listens to the stories of the victims and their families and wonders if one person is twenty-eight times more valuable than another.
song sparrow
Barlow also reminds us of the Civilla Martin poem, "His Eye Is On The Sparrow," which became a gospel hymn offering comfort to the African-American Church in earlier centuries. We will never forget hearing Kathleen Battle sing this hymn a cappella at a concert with the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center. We sat in the front row, center, and she was right in front of us, just a foot away, in this striking dark red-wine velvet dress. Her soul was singing from somewhere deep inside her.
This, indeed, is a Scripture passage and a hymn about how valuable each of us is to God. People often come for spiritual direction when they do not feel valued by God. So when we talk, I wish I could sing this song like Kathleen Battle and tell them their worth.
Barlow concludes her message by telling us that Feinberg was once again consulted in 2007 by the president of Virginia Tech about distributing compensation to the families of those killed in that mass shooting. His 9/11 experience has changed Feinberg. He now believes in the equality of all life. Therefore, he recommends that all victims, students, and faculty receive the same compensation.
This is the story of how the God of our understanding works tirelessly to teach us the value of our neighbor. Our God desperately loves and values each one of us.
Every morning, I am reminded of this as I watch the white-crowned house sparrows come to the feeder outside my window above my desk.
When fear fills my heart, the sparrows outside my window comfort me.
I still hear Kathleen Battle singing "His Eye Is On The Sparrow/And I Know He's Watching Over You and Me."
White Crowned Sparrow
I often sing this hymn throughout the day, especially during Holy Week. These are seven special days to reflect on the depth of God's love for each of us.
Joanna. joannaseibert.com. https://www.joannaseibert.com/