Church Family News: Sunday 6th July 2025

 “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? 
And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father …
Fear not, therefore, for you are of more value than many sparrows.”
Matthew 10:29 (ESV)

‘It makes no sense’
The news this week has been filled with the tragic death of Liverpool and Portugal footballer Diogo Jota, aged 28, along with his younger brother André Silva, aged 25.  They died when their car crashed after suffering a tyre blowout.  They were driving to Santander to catch the ferry to England, Jota having been advised against flying after undergoing minor surgery.

It’s not only the world of football that has been touched by his death, however.  Here was a young man with a bright future who truly had ‘the ball at his feet’ and ‘everything to play for.’  Jota had just won the English Premier League with Liverpool, and only 11 days earlier he had married his long-term partner and the mother of his three children, Rute Cardoso.

The tributes came quickly and in plenty.  He was clearly respected as a person, and not only a sportsman, who despite his fame had not forgotten his humble roots.  His Liverpool teammate Andy Robertson said, “He was such a good guy.  The best.  So genuine.   Just normal and real.”  His former manager at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp wrote on Instagram that he was “not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend.”

One or two touched on the meaning of his death, or rather the lack of meaning they could see in it.  Portugal team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo said simply, “It makes no sense.”  And Jurgen Klopp, known for his Christian faith, wrote that “This is a moment where I struggle!  There must be a bigger purpose!   But I can’t see it!”

They’re right.  It makes no sense to us, not that we can see.  And yet we can be sure that there is a bigger purpose.  Jesus assures us of that when he says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father … Fear not, therefore, for you are worth more than many sparrows.”

It’s impressive enough to say that not a single sparrow will die without our Father’s knowledge.  But Jesus is saying more than that.  He’s saying it won’t happen without our Father’s will – literally “apart from your Father.”  If our Father doesn’t want it to happen it won’t, and if he does it will. 

Now if that’s true for a single sparrow, how much more so for us human beings who are “of more value than many sparrows.”  These truths don’t answer all the questions, but they offer unspeakable comfort in knowing that our lives really are in our Father’s hands.

Prayer
Lord, please bring hope from this tragedy and life from these deaths.  Help me to believe that my life, and the lives of those I love, really are in your hands and that they are safe hands – especially when I most need it.  Amen.

Yours warmly, in Christ,
Chris Hobbs (Senior Minister)