Kirk Reflections 30th November 2025.

Morag Carnall brings this week's reflection from Kirkliston Parish Church, Scotland.

Care

Sparrows are small yet special birds.  They’re sometimes overlooked because they’re so tiny – but we should consider sparrows when we think of God’s loving care.  In the Bible, sparrows are mentioned in two key verses that show their significance.  

They were common in biblical places.  The Hebrew people generally considered sparrows unimportant because they were so plentiful - some even found them annoying, because of their busyness and tendency to nest around people’s homes.  But in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, sparrows are used as an example of how God values all the creatures in creation but values people above everything.  

Jesus points out in Matthew 10:29-31, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” 

While people may overlook sparrows, God always sees them and cares about them. Sparrows show us that no creature – no matter how small or common – is beyond the reach of God’s love.  Since God takes good care of even seemingly insignificant creatures like sparrows, we can trust that God will take good care of us.  And God encourages us to take care of others.  The healing and miracles that Jesus performed are great examples of care. 

The Dalai Lama said that “"The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being."