The LCA provides this sermon edited for lay-reading, with thanks to the original author.

Proper 7, Year A

Matthew 10:28-30.

More precious than any sparrow!

To many people, sparrows are pests. They build their nests under eaves and in rooves and make a terrible mess. They eat the food left out for other more valuable birds such as our native parrots or our backyard chooks. They leave their ‘calling cards’ on our outdoor furniture and on our vehicles. If they were orange and turquoise instead of brown and grey or if their song was more like a Beethoven symphony, we might tolerate them more. But they’re drab little birds that don’t really have a place in our environment. So when a cat kills a sparrow, or one gets hit by a car or a baby sparrow falls from its nest, no-one really cares.

But God cares! In the text for today we read,

“For only a cent you can buy two sparrows, yet not one sparrow falls to the ground without your father’s consent. As for you, even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So do not be afraid, you are worth much more than many sparrows.”

There are many birds for sale in pet shops. Some of them are beautiful and colourful parrots, and can be very expensive. You probably won’t find a sparrow in a pet shop. They are so cheap and worthless. Matthew says that in Jesus’ day one could buy two sparrows for a cent. That is cheap! In Luke 12 verse 6 Luke states: “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies.” So for two cents one gets an extra sparrow thrown in! And then Luke adds, “Yet not one sparrow is forgotten by God.”

If God never forgets even one sparrow, then you can be sure he will never ever forget you! If God notices a worthless sparrow, then you can be sure he cares about you. You are worth more than a whole flock of sparrows. Jesus has seen to that.

Relationships are important in our Christian faith. There is our relationship with God. The Father has adopted us into his family as his children. Jesus has seen to it that you and I are in a special relationship with God. He has paid the price for us to be counted as the children of God. The price he paid on the cross is a much greater price than anyone ever paid for a sparrow. The Holy Spirit gave us the special name of Christ in our baptism, when we were born again. The Spirit made sure we are members of God’s own family: a close and precious relationship. It is God the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit who care about us.

The precious relationship we have with God is also a relationship of trust. In Matthew 6 verse 26 Jesus says,

“Look at the birds flying around; they do not plant seeds, gather a harvest and put it into barns; yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth much more than birds?”

Martin Luther used this text to point out the trust of the birds. When the birds get up in the morning the first thing they do is to chirp and sing. They are so happy! Yet they don’t know where they will find breakfast! They have no food stored up and put away for their next meal. They don’t have any money to go down the street to buy some food.

What a contrast to some of us folk! When we wake up in the morning, some of us who are not ‘morning people’ can be quite grouchy. It is better if no one speaks to us. The last thing we would want to do is to sing a song! The birds give us a lesson in trust.

Think of some of our beautiful birds in Australia, like the parrots, for example. God dresses them up so beautifully! They don’t worry themselves sick about what they might wear to a wedding, or on Sunday. They are happy to wear the same clothes God supplies for them each week!

Then look at the choices we have. We can earn money in a variety of ways. We can spend that money on thousands of different dresses and outfits. And we can wear those different clothes for a variety for different occasions. We should be full of joy and trust. It thrills God when we are happy every day because we knew he looks after our daily needs. The birds are an example of the trust we can have in the loving Father who cares about each one of us. Trust is a beautiful relationship.

Anyone who has grown up on a farm or kept chooks will know not to try to collect eggs from a broody hen! She will attack you if you go too close. In Matthew 23:37, Jesus uses the picture of a broody hen who covers her chickens under her wings to protect them from evil powers and forces. Jesus gives us a picture of how God would love to put his arms round his people to protect them from evil powers and forces, but the people wouldn’t listen. The people drove away or even killed the messengers from God, like the prophets who came to announce the Good News about God and his loving concern for them. They even killed God’s own Son.

It is Jesus who takes on the evil powers and forces that would destroy us. His arms reach out from the cross to cover all people in the world with the precious forgiveness from God. His arms reach out in love, like the wings of a broody hen. Jesus assures us that evil powers might be able to destroy our bodies, but they can’t separate us from God. “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” What a wonderful comfort these words bring to us when we lose a close friend or loved one in an accident, or through depression, and they lose their life. Nothing can separate us from the loving God. Not even the worst powers of evil.

We can have wonderful and close relationships with people too: with our spouse, our families and special friends. But the most wonderful relationship we have is with God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And unlike our earthly relationships that are only for a limited time, our special relationship with God lasts forever.

Remember, you are precious to God. Jesus has made sure of that. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

2