You are worth more than hundreds of sparrows

Pope Leo in his recent encyclical Magnifica Humanitas renews Pope Paul V1’s invitation to foster “a civilization of love” whose pathway is love and justice towards peace. This is the civilization currently under threat, which we must strive to cultivate. It is a path out of our anxious brittle social life and into the embodied flourishing we yearn for. This is the last paragraph of an article by Anna Rowlands on the Pope’s encyclical in one of the recent London Tablets.

These kinds of thoughts and aspirations always inspire me, the joy in seeing people flourishing, with good food, meaningful jobs, a roof over their head, and the ability to communicate what matters and concerns them, positive and happy life-giving relationships and so much more.

For so many it is out of reach.

I couldn’t help but make the connection to the words of Jesus instructing his disciples in this Sunday's Gospel. In using the image of a sparrow Jesus says, "And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid, you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows." Matthew 10:26-33.

Knowing and accepting that intimate visibility and concern that God has for each one of us, insignificant as we are one might think, is the source of the flourishing we yearn for and from that place to proclaim it from the housetops. Jesus is asking us to stand up and be counted, live our lives knowing that we are intimately loved, and live out of that reality at home and in the marketplace despite the negativity and opposition we may encounter or even perhaps tell ourselves. God is on our side and at our side and Jesus wants to remind us of that reality.

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Blessings on your week

The song I have chosen for you this week is 'Let love free' from 'Holy Land.'

Let love free

You are loved

You are gifted

Silence those voices that say otherwise

Stand in the light

Let the sun warm your heart

Even the parts of you you’d rather ignore

And let love carry you, and let love cradle you, and let love nurture you and let love free

Formed by love

In your mother’s womb

Embrace the power of such tender love

Into the light

That place where dreams come true

The heart of all hearts is beating for you

Let that love carry you, let that love cradle you, let that love nurture you and let love free

Let love with bright wings

From which all hope springs

Bless you in all things

And give you peace

(instrumental)

You are loved

Let your love go free

Out into places

For your love to be

Holding the light

The light that has guided you

Lead you to find a love to believe

Let that love carry you…….