Have you ever tried to count the number of hairs on your own head? On a child's? Or even on a doll? After a very short period of time you would probably give up because it is a practically impossible task. Yet Jesus tells us that the Father has all our hairs numbered.

Does this not speak of the greatness, the infinitude and even the love of God?

This is the God that supports Jeremiah in his turmoil. When friends denounce and try to stop him, Jeremiah knows that God is with him and will see him through "like a mighty champion". This is the faithful God who will be with him to the end. God will rescue him because God cares for the poor and Jeremiah trusts that God will be true to his promise.

God takes care of us out of love and knows how poor we are compared to the magnificence of creation. God's help and mercy are always with us because God never wavers, but is always constant in love for us.

How can we doubt the constancy of the Father's love? Through the suffering and death of his only Son, God redeemed the human race. Jesus assures us of this when he tells us that not only are the hairs of our head numbered, but God cares also for all the birds of the air and knows when even one small sparrow falls to the ground.

How can we not place all our trust in a heavenly Father whose love extends to everything that has been created? When we look at a blade of grass or hear the call of a bird or look into the eyes of a vulnerable child, should we not fall on our knees to proclaim the greatness of our God, to beg forgiveness for our shortcomings and to express gratitude for the magnificent love in which we are enfolded? Our faith should be renewed, our doubts should vanish and we should rest in our knowledge of God's unbounded love.

Sr. Jean Beagan, O.P.