You are worth more than many sparrows
From the Song “Be Not Afraid” by John Michael Talbot: “Be not afraid I go before you always. Come follow me and I will give you rest.”
Recently, I spoke in confidence with a black woman whom I work with. She recounted that as a young black person she and her husband had decided when they first married not to have children because of the trauma of racial discrimination both economic and social. Eventually, she and her husband had two beautiful children. However the fear still remained. To this day like any mother she worries about them. She also grew up in Tulsa where in 1921 a race riot occurred. I never heard about this until I moved to Tulsa. She had relatives that lived through this evil period.
As a white person it is hard to grasp all the fears that she and her husband experienced in the 1980’s. I would never have dreamed that not having children was a choice that a married couple would make, but they did.
Now there are many more people who have justifiable fears. Doctors and nurses in COVID-19 units for one. Police face fear all the time.
Now I think we as Catholics all totally support our men and women in law enforcement. These are mostly good and honest people. They do a job that I could never do and they deserve our prayers and support, spiritually and financially.
My buddy, Skip, who is a retired Saint Petersburg Policeman, described his tenure of active duty policeman as hours and hours of boredom followed by brief instances of sheer terror. Policemen have a necessary and dangerous job to do. I, myself, could never have done it.
Both people have real fears. We are not casting blame here because some fears are rational and others are not.
No matter who we are we have fears……… Fear is real.
As I was thinking of fear and how it effects us. Looking up at the stars in the 5am sky. My bride, Anna, and I were up early to take someone to the airport. I thought how insignificant I am in relation to all of creation. I am here as a spec of time and God is infinity.
Today’s readings don’t take away the things we fear or our seeming insignificance. They are still there and even though we are small in the scheme of things, we are important to God. You are worth more than many sparrows.
What gets us through fear?
What gives us the rest that John Michael Talbot was speaking ?
Saint Paul writes in our first reading from Ephesians 1. In our Baptism we were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.
We get the courage to stand up to injustice in this world, the fears of everyday life and our own seeming insignificance through the gift of the Holy Spirit that we received in Baptism. We are God’s precious possession so that we might exist for the praise of His Glory.
Now none of us can solve all the injustices and fears of the world. We can’t protect all children or police men and women all the time. However, in small ways we can every day do His will to spread peace in the world. We have no power but the Holy Spirit working in us can do it in small or even large ways.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
Please pray for the repose of the soul of an intensive care nurse, Jan Foster who died recently. Also pray for the health of a good friend John, a retired teacher, who has serious medical issues.
