Not... without your Father

In today’s Gospel (Mt. 10:26-33), our Lord says,

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?
and one of them shall not fall on the ground
without your Father.

The word translated as “without” indicates a level of involvement not always clearly understood in the English word. The full phrase is therefore variously translated as “without your Father’s knowledge” or “will.” The Greek word itself, according to the dictionary, means “without one's will or intervention.”

The bottom line is that our heavenly Father is always present and involved, even in the smallest things of life.

More than that, our Lord says,

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

This familiar verse is very rich with meaning.

Consider how close, how intimate one must be to count hairs on a person’s head. Consider the time and the diligence required.

Consider also that no one can count the hairs on one’s own head without help (even with the help of mirrors it would be very, very difficult).

Consider then how close God is to us, how intimate the relationship between us and our heavenly Father, how much and how thoroughly he cares for us, and how he knows us better than we can know ourselves.

No matter what our experiences or memories of earthly fathers may have been, the goodness of our heavenly Father is as wonderful as we can imagine... and even more wonderful!

Our Father
Who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy Name!