Year A
His Eye Is on the Sparrow: God Knows and Cares
How could a couple facing decades of illness remain so joyful? Alan Robinson traces the story behind the gospel song "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" back to Jesus' promise in Matthew 10.
Speaker: Alan Robinson
Message type: Sermon
Date: Sunday 21 June 2026
Lectionary: Year A, Pentecost 4
Bible references: Matthew 10:29–31
Other lectionary readings: To be confirmed
Summary
Alan Robinson tells the story behind the 1905 gospel song "His Eye Is on the Sparrow," which grew from a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle — a couple who, despite years of serious illness, radiated cheerful faith because, as Mrs. Doolittle put it, "If God has his eye on the little sparrow, then I know he's watching over me." Grounding the song in Jesus' words in Matthew 10 — "you are worth much more than many sparrows" — Robinson reminds us that when we feel lonely, abandoned or hopeless, "God knows and God cares."
Reflective Questions
- What strikes you most about Mrs. Doolittle's response to her suffering?
- Tell about a song, verse or phrase that has brought you comfort in a hard time.
- How does our congregation remind people that God watches over them?
- Where do you see this kind of quiet, resilient faith in our wider community?
Notes for editor: The video title gives "IG" as the message type, which may be an abbreviation for a specific format; defaulted to "Sermon." Other lectionary readings marked "To be confirmed." The speaker's friend "Paco" sings a verse; his surname is not given in the transcript.