Your Value in the Eyes of God

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

You Matter to God

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today we celebrate Father’s Day, and the readings invite us to reflect on the love and care of our Heavenly Father.

Sometimes we may wonder about the value of our lives. Throughout human history, billions of people have lived on this earth. Today more than eight billion people share this planet. Only a few become famous. Only a few are remembered in history books. Most people live ordinary lives, and after a few generations their names may be forgotten.

When we look at life from a purely worldly perspective, we may ask: What difference does my life make? Am I really important?

Today’s readings give us God’s answer.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples:

“Do not be afraid.”

He then says something remarkable:

“Even all the hairs of your head are counted.”

Jesus is teaching us that every person is known personally by God. We are not anonymous faces in a crowd. We are not statistics. We are not accidents of history.

In the eyes of the world, our value is often measured by success, wealth, achievements, or popularity. But in the eyes of God, our value comes from something much deeper: we are His beloved children.

That is why Jesus says:

“You are worth more than many sparrows.”

God knows us. God loves us. God cares for us.

The first reading gives us a concrete example of this truth.

The prophet Jeremiah feels abandoned. His enemies are against him. People mock him and seek his downfall. From a human perspective, Jeremiah appears weak and alone.

Yet Jeremiah does not lose hope.

He says:

“But the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion.”

Jeremiah’s confidence does not come from public approval. It comes from knowing that God is with him.

Many of us have experienced moments like Jeremiah. We may feel ignored, misunderstood, rejected, or alone. We may wonder whether anyone notices our struggles.

Today’s readings remind us that God notices.

He knows our joys and our sorrows.

He knows our hopes and our fears.

He knows even the hairs of our head.

And because He knows us, we do not need to live in fear.

Perhaps that is why Jesus repeats several times in today’s Gospel:

“Do not be afraid.”

As we celebrate Father’s Day, let us thank God for the gift of our earthly fathers and for all those who have shown us fatherly care and guidance.

But above all, let us thank our Heavenly Father, who knows each of us by name, who never forgets us, and who reminds us today that our lives have infinite value in His eyes.

The world may not remember every name.

History books may not record every life.

But God knows each one of His children personally.

And for Him, every life matters.

Amen.