More Than Many Sparrows

Jesus said to his Apostles: “No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! “Therefore, do not be afraid of them.

Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.

And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.” (Matthew 10:24-33)

Do not be afraid, unless we deny Jesus before others.  How do we deny Jesus?  When we speak in darkness through lies and when we whisper slander and thoughtless gossip, we deny Jesus.

When we share secrets about others that are then shouted and proclaimed from the housetops we call the internet, we deny Jesus. 

When we kill the soul of others through scapegoating and abusive language and bullying, we deny Jesus.  Our victims – especially when young – may “escape” through suicide.  That is our killing of their bodies as well as their souls.

We must not be afraid to tell the truth and set wrongs right.  Our Father counts all the hairs our heads (even the follicles of shaved chrome-domes).  With that sort of attention, we are acknowledged by the Father as we should always acknowledge Him who values us far more than many sparrows. 

Deacon David Pierce