A week ago,  Saturday,  I led the office of Compline, and as an opening Orison house_sparrow(bidding prayer), I chanted the opening strains from Samuel Barber’s opus, The Prayers of Kierkegaard.  This prayer has stayed with me for many years ever since I rehearsed the work as a member of a community chorus.

Contained within the prayer, Kierkegaard writes, “The need of a sparrow; even this moves Thee, and was we scarcely see, a human sigh, this moves Thee, O infinite Love!”

Wikipedia defines sparrows as small passerine (perching) birds. As eight or more species nest in or near buildings, and the House Sparrow and Eurasian Tree Sparrow in particular inhabit cities in large numbers, sparrows may be the most familiar of all wild birds.

Though abundant, these birds are also known as pests, clogging rain drains, and causing other problems for home owners. Being neither exotic, or unusual, sparrows are so ordinary they can be seen as entirely expendable.

It is no surprise Kierkegaard borrowed the imagery of the sparrow for his prayer which makes known God’s infinite love. At the same time, it might be good for us to question our own internal imagery. Do we falsely see ourselves as an exotic Myna when in reality we are all Sparrows?

What are the needs of the sparrows?

  • Basic health care for all
  • The recognition of the State for equality in marriage
  • The full inclusion of all the baptized without marginalization
  • The world community’s support in feeding those who have nothing
  • The flourishing of all people without holding power over others
  • Helping others through their human sighs

“The sparrow has found her a house, and the swallow a nest where she may hay her young; by the side of your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.” (Psalm 84:2)

Or, as Kierkegaard would say, “O infinite Love!”