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.
The Christian Century: Thinking Critically, Living Faithfully is a biweekly magazine that explores current religious topics. I started subscribing many years ago when Scott Lee told me Barbara Brown Taylor often wrote for it. Today I especially look for a section called "The Word: Reflections on the Lectionary," in which some outstanding ministers from all denominations write a response to the Sunday lectionary readings.
In the June 7, 2017 issue, Liddy Barlow, executive minister of Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania, is the guest preacher writing about the sparrow text from Matthew for the Sunday of June 25. She talks about the lawyer Kenneth Feinberg, who chaired the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund, giving 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 compensations ranged from $250,000 to $7.1 million. Feinberg struggles with this differentiation at the end of the experience, 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.
Barlow also reminds us of the Civilla Martin poem, "His Eye Is On The Sparrow," which became a Gospel hymn bringing comfort to the African-American Church in our past century. I will never forget hearing Kathleen Battle sing this hymn, a Capella, in a concert with the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center. We were in the first-row center, and she was there in front of us, a foot away, in this striking dark red-wine velvet dress. Her soul was singing from somewhere deep inside of her.
This indeed is a Scripture passage and a hymn about how valuable each of us is to God. People often tend to 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 let them know their worth.
Barlow concludes her message by telling us that Feinberg was again consulted in 2007 by the president of Virginia Tech about distributing the compensation to the families of those killed in that mass shooting. His 9/11 experience has changed Feinberg. He now believes in 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 and every one of us.
Every morning, I am reminded of this as I watch the white-crowned sparrows come to the feeder outside my window above my desk.
When fear fills my heart during this pandemic, the sparrows comfort me outside my window. I can still hear Kathleen Battle singing "His Eye Is On The Sparrow/ And I know He's Watching Over You and Me."
I often sing this hymn many times during the day, especially during Holy Week. These are seven special days to remember the depth of the love of our God for each of us.
Joanna. joannaseibert.com