“Sparrows, Shrubs, and Sheep”

Luke 12:6-7; 32-34

Pastor Deb Troester, STHPC, August 3, 2025

In third grade I began to take piano lessons. After school on Fridays I rode my bike, with my piano music in the basket, to Mrs. Harris’s house. I usually got there early and had to wait for the student before me to finish. Mrs. Harris would usher me down into her basement to wait, which I didn’t mind, because there was a comfortable chair surrounded by stacks and stacks of comic books: Archie, Batman, Superman. One of my favorites was Mad Magazine – not exactly a comic book in the traditional sense, but funny nonetheless, starting with the droll drawing of Alfred E. Neuman on the cover – the guy with the missing front tooth, big ears, and freckles, and his catch phrase, “What, me worry?”

As I grew older, the carefree days of childhood passed, and sometimes I did worry: I had to study for a test, I had to write an essay, would the other kids like me? Would I get into university? What should I study? Will I get a job? Who should I marry?

Worry seems like a part of life we can’t escape. Yet in the passage we just read, Jesus tells us twice “Do not worry.” He also says twice, “Do not be afraid.” Worry and fear are intertwined. Mostly we worry about things we are afraid might happen. Most of what we worry about never comes to pass, but we still worry.

Jesus knew people were prone to worry.  So he points to the birds of the sky and the flowers of the field. “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight…Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Later he says of the ravens: They don’t plant food or store it in barns, “yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!”

Joe and I enjoy watching birds in our neighborhood. Although we live in an urban area, there are still plenty of them: house finches with their rose-colored collars, mockingbirds, towhees, Anna’s hummingbirds, with their ruby throats. Most of all we enjoy a pair of red-tailed hawks that nest in a pine tree about 100 yards from our deck.

In the afternoons they can often be seen soaring in the sky, searching for prey. Sometimes one of them perches on the electric pole just the other side of our driveway. Even in the city, they somehow they get enough to eat. God has provided for them, although we humans also bear some responsibility in caring for the creatures of the earth.

“Therefore I tell you,” said Jesus, “do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.” In first century Palestine, only a small percentage of people lived in relative ease and comfort. The vast majority struggled from day to day to earn their daily bread. The need for food and clothing were topmost in their minds. There are still plenty of places in the world where the majority of people wake up in the morning and aren’t sure what they will eat that night. Parts of Sub-Saharan Africa come to mind, and of course the starvation in Gaza. Even in the U.S., 13.5% of families, or about 18 million people, don’t get enough to eat on a regular basis. I am happy our church has a small food bank, and has supported organizations such as Second Harvest.

Our Christmas in July raised over $1800 for Santa Maria Urban Ministry, which feeds some 500 people a week right here in San José. We also support Bread for the World, a Christian advocacy organization urging U.S. decision makers to do all they can to pursue a world without hunger.

While many people worry where their next meal will come from, I suspect most of us here this morning have other kinds of worries – maybe worries related to family, work, health, or our country. These worries may not be life-threatening, but they are worries nonetheless that can rob us of sleep and peace of mind.

So why do we worry? At the root of worry is a lack of trust in God. Jesus urges us to be more like the birds who trust God for their daily food, or the plants, trees, and shrubs, that draw their sustenance from the earth and flourish with the rain and sun. The Bible is full of assurances of God’s care for us and stories of God’s people who trusted in God and were not disappointed. Earlier I read a portion of Psalm 107, which gives example after example of God’s care.

It’s a good Psalm to read if you are worried, along with Psalms 91 and 121. Or read John Chapter 10, where Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Jesus also said,  “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” That’s at the end of Matthew Chapter 11, if you would like to look it up. And, of course, Jesus’ words in the passage we read this morning: “Do not be afraid, little flock, - little sheep - for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” “Seek God’s kingdom, and these things – [the things you really need and are worried about getting] - will be given to you as well.”

I could literally stand here for the next half hour and read verses and stories from the Bible that tell of God’s love and care for us, but I want us to consider another lesson from this reading.

Jesus said, “…even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.” In a devotional I read, the author suggested thinking of this verse every day when you brush or comb your hair. I don’t know what they would have suggested for people who are bald – I guess they are giving God a break!

Such verses comfort us – God knows everything about us – even the hairs on our head are numbered. Jesus says twice in this passage that God values us tremendously! That is good news! God values me – say it with me: “God values me.” Say it like you mean it: “God values me!”  Now turn to the person next to you and say, “God values you!” 

Now, let’s all say, “God values my neighbor!” (repeat). And, finally, “God values my enemies.” (repeat).

God doesn’t just value us. God values everyone. And so should we. Think about someone you really dislike, or a group of people you don’t like… Now put the person or group’s name in this phrase: God values [blank]. God loves [blank].

This week I talked to someone who left his church of many years because of political disagreements. He happens to agree with some of the things our current president is doing. Most people in his church do not. As a result, he didn’t feel welcome anymore, so he made the difficult decision to leave. Brothers and sisters, this should not be happening. I believe that the love of Christ, which unites us, is stronger than those who would tear us apart for their own selfish reasons. And believe me, politicians of any party will use hatred as a weapon to drive us apart in order to gain or to hold onto power.

I had a good discussion with this person, with whom I disagreed on many points, but agreed on some. I listened politely, told him my point of view respectfully, and affirmed that even though we disagreed on politics, he was still my brother in Christ. We found out that we both like science fiction, and are big Star Trek fans. We left the door open for further dialog. This kind of conversation needs to be multiplied by the millions in our country and our world. I don’t know how to get there, but if we in the church cannot set an example of respectful dialog, who will? We have a solid theological foundation: God loves and cares for every single person on this earth, and calls us to do the same – friend or enemy; people we agree with and people we don’t. We are all made in the image of God.

I’ve been reading a book called A People's History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story  by Diana Butler Bass. She concludes her chapter on early Christianity with St. Augustine, who wrote “reams about original sin, predestination, the creeds, just war, and heresy.” Yet near the end of his life, he affirmed that “All the commandments of God…are embraced in love.” The end of following Jesus’s way is love; every practice “has love for its aim…“This love embraces both the love of God and the love of our neighbor, and ‘on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets, [for] “God is love. And all will be perfected in love.”

Soon we will meet at the Lord’s Table. As we do, remember that you are valued by God. You are loved by God – and so is your neighbor, no matter who or where they are. Amen.

Bass, Diana Butler. A People's History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story (pp. 79-80). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

Sermon ©Deborah Troester 2025