# Every hair is counted
*2018-07-14*

> Bill Young reflects on the feast of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha and the comforting truth that God knows every detail of our lives, from the hairs on our heads to the secrets of our hearts.

## The Lily of the Mohawks

Today is July 14th, the feast day of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. Born in upstate New York to a Mohawk chief and a Christian mother, Kateri faced a difficult life, losing both parents to disease. Despite the opposition of her tribe, she sought baptism at age 19 and walked some 200 miles to Montreal, Canada, to reach the St. Francis Xavier Mission. Known as the 'Lily of the Mohawks,' she lived a life of intense prayer for four years before passing away at the young age of 24. She was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.

## Trusting in Divine Providence

In today's Gospel from Matthew 10:23-33, Jesus reminds us that we should not be afraid. He tells us that not one sparrow falls to the ground without the Father's knowledge, and that even the very hairs of our head are counted. This is a powerful reminder that we are far more important to God than the birds of the air. If He cares for the smallest details of creation, we can trust Him with our lives and our souls.

## A Personal Encounter with Grace

I recall a time when I turned to the Rosary during a period of trouble, asking my aunt, Sister Mary Teresa, for her intercession. She had spent over 50 or 60 years as a sister dedicated to our Lord. After praying the Rosary, I felt an overwhelming capacity for love that I had never known, which I shared with my son and later felt toward strangers at my workplace. When I later told my sister, Susie, about this experience, she mentioned feeling that same profound sense of love at our aunt's funeral. It was a beautiful confirmation that Sister Mary Teresa was in heaven, serving as a saint among us.

## God Knows Every Minute

I recently rediscovered a Bible my aunt had given me many years ago. Inside was a holy card placed exactly where the text describes Mary saying 'yes' to God. Coincidentally, the very next day, the Gospel reading was about Mary's 'fiat.' This reminded me that when the Lord says every hair on our head is counted, it means more than just physical hair; He knows every minute of our lives and every decision we make—whether good, bad, or indifferent.

## Faithfulness and Patience

Pope Francis reminds us that Christians who suffer persecution are signs of what will happen to everyone, but we should not be afraid. He calls us to faithfulness and patience, asking us to reflect on our own worship: Do we truly adore Jesus Christ, or are we playing games with the prince of this world? We should ask for the grace of trust and fidelity, knowing that our redemption is drawing near.

*Since our Lord knows every action and every detail of our lives, let that knowledge inspire us to strive to do more good.*