This week’s readings are profound and also very intimate. They tell us that God truly loves us and cares about each and every person. Unfortunately we live in a society that tends treat people as though they were disposable. As a result, many people feel they just don’t matter. Years ago, I was privileged to teach in a high school, and I met young people who felt that it didn’t matter if they were born or not. Some had suffered bullying online or had things said behind their backs and were so wounded that they felt nothing mattered. When I began hearing this, I started writing on the board U – MATTER. At first the kids though it was a joke because of the way I had spelled it, but then I explained it to them. I told them that they were unique and that there has never been, nor will there ever be a person exactly like them in the entire universe. When God made them He did break the mold. Every single person has the ability to bring good into the world and no matter what your job is or what you end up doing, it matters. The world would be far less beautiful if you were not there. All of our lives are seasons. Some are tough to get through and they do not last forever. However most of them are wonderful adventures that challenge us and shape us, and allow us to see over time how this needed to happen so that something else could happen, and it all fits together like a jigsaw puzzle or a beautiful tapestry. I say all of this because of today’s readings. God tells us that nothing happens to us that He does not know about. Our Gospel today tells us that He even knows every hair on our heads. He loves you and knows who we are in the very depths of our being, and we matter to Him. So this week, if you start feeling a little down, spend some time alone with God and pour out your heart to Him. Spend some time in Adoration and just let yourself be in the presence of the one who fashioned you. There will never be anyone else like you, this is your time…You matter to the people who love you, to the world you live in, and to the God who calls you friend…Something to think about…May God richly bless you always…