Image by Deanne Fortnam (click on image for larger version)
The Word for the Week on the sidebar is from Sunday's gospel (Matthew 10:26-33):
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.
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.
Note carefully that Jesus does not promise that the Father's beloved sparrows will not fall to the ground. Rather he promises that when they fall, the Father will not be unaware...
There may be times in our lives when we think that the Father has promised (or should promise) to keep us from falling, from being hurt, from suffering... Not even Jesus, God's only Son was spared any of that. But the Father knew every moment of Christ's pain and when he fell -- not to the ground but into the arms of death -- the Father allowed him to fall...
Sometimes we are surprised that God allows us to suffer. No stranger to suffering, God, in Christ, knows our pain. While he may allow us to fall into the arms of death, ultimately his mercy is the safety net that assures us that God's watchful eye on our lives is not in vain.
Of course, there are times when the Lord calls on us to be safety nets for one another. How many times in a day, in a week, in a year might we be the nets that rescue others from loneliness, from poverty, from judgment, from hurt?
Just as the Father has his eye on the sparrow, so are we called to keep our eye on our neighbor...
The 1952 movie version of Carson McCuller's The Member of the Wedding includes Ethel Waters singing the hymn, His Eye Is On The Sparrow. This video clip begins with the story of how that hymn came to be in the movie and the segment of the film leading up to the song. If you have a few minutes, take your time and watch the whole video - there's a prayer in there for you, especially if you're feeling confused, discouraged or lost...
-ConcordPastor
I never saw Member of the Wedding. Thank you for this clip. I grew up in the South. I am struck by how much innate wisdom black people have. I think because they often have had such a rough road, they have relied on Jesus to bring them through. In this clip Bernice calms Frankie by drawing on that strength she has always found in Jesus. There is a good lesson here for me.
ReplyDeleteThis is a longer-than-usual video clip for this blog: I'm thrilled to know that at least one person took the time to view it - and found it helpful (as did I!).
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the 2 comments I just watched teh whole clip. I highly recommend it.....very calming and very powerful. Praise Jesus.
ReplyDeleteThank you, it's well worth the time spent (which actually doesn't seem long because it certainly holds your attention). Interesting how it opens with so much activity from one person and gradually the characters meld and mellow and together convey the powerful message. Their "togetherness" is part of the message.
ReplyDelete