"What is the price of two sparrows--one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it." Matthew 10:29

I am often flummoxed by an idea I see and hear a lot: that Christians would be flabbergasted, their faith destroyed, were we to encounter intelligent extraterrestrials. I guess some of them might or would, but I, and others, would be amazed and joyful. If our God is as omni as we say He is, why wouldn't He create worlds upon worlds?

And such is the attitude of Father Emilio Sandoz, Ph.D., S.J., who is among the first people to hear extraterrestrial intelligence and the very first to greet them. The Sparrow is the story of the first mission to another planet, undertaken clandestinely by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). The narrative bounces from Sandoz's current, our future, to the past, our present or near-future. He returns to Earth, saved from the alien planet by a UN mission, and must tell the story of why he is the only surviving member of the landing party.

The story is graceful, deeply moving, and full of heart. If faith is an act, and you can fall in love with God, can God or your faith betray you? Is despair a sin or only the natural consequence of fallen men on fallen worlds? What happens when you walk in God's will, but His will is apparently a fate worse than death. Is there a way back from that or do you simply push forward into a new faith and a new love?

A profound book and worth reading.