A cat was run down on the road. The perpetrator delivered the cat to the vet, who saved its life. The person concerned must have known owner and cat, for the vet rang the owner to tell her to pick up her cat. She was an invalid on a benefit. She could not afford to pay. The vet kept the cat, adding fees for lodging and food. But eventually put the cat down.

These animal stories are only an anecdotal example of a deeper and more terrible guilt. This is the tip of the iceberg: the human interest side of it, that may hit us home. 

This earth is our home, yet have we treated it as home? With respect, care, consideration, love? 
Speaking of icebergs: consider the ozone layer, global warming. Our world in which we have created bombs can kill all life, and leave buildings intact. Are we crazy or what? 

It is of no use thinking of Armageddon, a new heaven and a new earth, or of lions laying down with lambs, unless we also take on board the parable of the talents. The lesser serves the greater, we were made stewards - or servants of the animals, as well as being called  His friends. 
How have we used this 'talent' that He has given us? 

For to him who has, more shall be given, to him who has not, even that which he has shall be taken away. 

If we care not at all for this earth,  why would he give us a greater?  We lay the foundations of the New Heaven and the New Earth here. 

 

What care do we have of our environment? 

I tell you, environmental issues are more urgent than almost any other issue of justice or inequality. If we don't get our heads together  right quickly,  there won't be an us.  We won't have air to breathe,  it will be too hot for human  survival, never mind, "what shall we eat, what shall we wear, and who is theologically correct?"
 

His rescue and his second coming , like the first, will include the two edged sword of judgement. 

It is our response to the helpless which demonstrates the two edges of that sword.

If we don't take care of this earth,  I am convinced that our dear Lord will surely not give us a new one to plunder and destroy !
 

let us learn what we can, from whoever will teach us. 
let us begin at Home, with the way we treat our own animals, our own environment, and the angel comforters who are faithful to us, and who lift up our hearts. 
You may say that you don't have pets.  But if there are no birds in your garden, crickets, and insects, and tiny creatures, something is very definitely wrong. 
I made a little pool in my back yard, and within hours there were critters living in it.  And if you do? It is your place to care for them, and live in harmony with them.
The very trees in your garden bear listening to. They have a living presence if you will be still enough to become aware, as He did, in the Garden and in the Hillside. 
 

Again, starting at home:  Check out Home and Hearth's Sites on Animal Care: 

(smile) but He does have a way of suggesting little things that you can do, even when you are stuck in a chair praying for other people to do something, doesn't he?
 
 

Pray for council workers, and sewerage workers. Your life depends on those you never see. 

For those who are allergic to everything, and who must go outside with masks. 

For farmers and food growers, and herdsmen everywhere. For hunters and gatherers.

Pray for our life source, the humble earth under foot..
 

We pray for the little foxes who have learned to live in towns. For the birds who live in dusty city thorns, for the owl and the osprey and the linnet. The tui and the bellbird and the little black south island robin.

And for all creatures who have struggled to adapt to us, whom perhaps we do not even see as we crush them.

Lord, forgive us our fear. The fear that will kill a bug or trap a beast who has its own life to live. It's own design and purpose in the way things are.

We remember with thanksgiving the many animals who have laid down their lives for human beings. The horses who have galloped into battle, the dogs who have rescued, the cats who have warned, police dogs who have been battered and shot. 

Creatures who have hauled great loads, who have suffered bridles and manacles, who have lived their whole lives in mines. We do remember them.

We remember our own beloved pets, with thanksgiving. We repent of any pain or grief or privation we may have caused them, for our lack of understanding, our ignorance, or our poverty.  We thank them in our hearts for the comfort and content they have given us  not withstanding our hardness of heart.
 

We repent that we have abolished species, which may have had healing properties, or that were in our way: that we have torn up the earth herself in our search for greater ease, and that we have neglected to plant where we have harvested. That we have not replenished the earth. That our trees perish from acids which they cannot avoid, their roots shrivel and cringe from the pollution of the earth. That we have turned the fertile abundant plains into a dust bath we have sown plastic, and removed topsoil:  and our oil has changed the teeming sounds into a silent, beautiful memorial. 

We grieve for the creatures we shall never see, and we yearn for amendment of life, and the healing of' an earth in travail: we pray  that our children and our children's children should see at least as much as we see and love at least as much as we love.

And we lay down our hearts in sorrow because we belong to a species that uses other species for entertainment, rather than shared play. For the creatures who fight and dance for our entertainment, the creatures who live in cages and are afraid of the sun and light and air should they ever see it, until they have laid their eggs, and grown old, or seen their paws cut off for human medicine, or watched their fellows taken straight to the pot as they awaited their turn.

What amendment can we make for this, or for the torture of the earth ? 

"In so much as you do it to one of my little ones, you do it unto me"

 

BRING THEM PEACE IN THEIR TIME OF LOSS

 

Pray for those whose only company is an animal, whose only reason for living is that someone must care for their beast..
 

 
We pray for those animals whose loyalty transcends the brutality of their owners. For the creatures who love despite neglect and privation and obey despite torture.
We pray for the work of Animal Welfare Leagues, of the Society for the protection of animals, and the many Animal Refuge People who live sacrificial lives in order to pay for food and care for the creatures who are bought to them.

 
 

WE PRAISE YOU FOR ALL YOUR SAINTS ESPECIALLY 
SAINT FRANCIS, SAINT CLARE, ST ANTHONY, AND SAINT COLUMBA, 

WHO HAVE ENTERED YOUR ETERNAL GLORY