If Saint Francis were here today, I wonder what he would think about our *use and abuse* of animals? I think it would totally break his heart…..as it breaks so many of our hearts. And, of course, above all others, it breaks the Lord’s heart to see what His creation is going through.
Before Jesus died on the cross, He said “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) I would venture to speculate that when Jesus prays on our behalf today, He is saying this again and again to the Father, especially when it comes to our treatment of His animal creation……
Let’s pray that each day, each one of us can spread the joy, love and peace of the Lord so that the world looks a little more like the Kingdom. Let’s pray for more people to be sent into the harvest, so that little by little we take back what Satan stole. That as we shine like Jesus into the world, the Holy Spirit can open eyes and hearts so that people do see what they do – for the Lord’s sake, for the animal kingdom – that more of His precious creatures may lie in peace, experience joy, and know love from us; that they may be set free from their prisons, frolic in the oceans, fly freely through the open skies, feel the grass under their feet, the rain and the sunshine, and not live in fear and pain, in darkness, squalor or death.
Let’s praise God for each and every gift that they are. Each and every animal creation is unique, a finger print of our Father, a breath of His life. On this special day, Saint Francis Day, let’s enjoy and celebrate them, and thus also enjoy and celebrate the Lord our God in all His wonder, beauty, power and greatness! Let’s pledge to do this every day, and to encourage people everywhere to do the same!
Let’s bless them. In blessing them, we bless one another, and we act out our praise and worship for our Father God! AMEN!
I am attaching two pieces by Roslyne Smith, my fellow blogger on this site, that were put together for her church’s celebration and blessing of the animals – St. Peter’s Church, Rawdon, village in the metropolitan borough of the City of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. I hope they bless you, as they have me!
Suggest that you open each sheet and follow along with the program, perhaps even open up the music U-Tube videos, and have a little sermon of your own on this Sabbath day, you and the Lord, in commemoration of Saint Francis; but more importantly, to connect with the Lord, to listen for His voice in what He may be putting on your hearts as to what He needs you to do or say for His animal creation. He longingly want us to embrace them, care for them, and take our place as their “care-givers” loving them in such a fashion that they can know their Creator through us! Those of us who understand this are to be His light and love and teachers and ministers of this important message! Thank you – enjoy – and may you be as blessed by this very beautiful animal blessing service as I was!!
St Francis Tide Pet Service Sheet from Ros
Quote from the link above; to see more, go to the link: “WELCOME AND BIDDING PRAYER: Almighty God, we come together to thank you for the beauty and glory of your creation; to praise you for your holiness and grace; to acknowledge our responsibility to all animals and for our use of the created world. But first, we ask your forgiveness for the many ways in which animals are abused and exploited, through both ignorance and greed; and we confess before you our part in their suffering, for the times we have remained silent, lacking the courage to speak out in their defence.”
Thoughts on a Collection of Bible Passages from Ros
Quote from the link above; to see more, go to the link: “Animals must have been very important to God for He gave them into the care of His supreme creation – us – and He directed humankind to name them, giving them an identity, a unique and lasting value.”
“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: ‘To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!’” (Revelation 5 v 13)
O Lord Come!
Blessings! Your thoughts are always welcome, and, thank you for following our blog! ~Kathy
Timothy J. Verret
Beautifully written article, Kathy! I pray that we are and will be forgiven (BOTH) for the “unGodly” treatment of God’s nonhuman animals in factory farms, in research labs (vivisection and other inhumane measures), on fur farms, in entertainment venues like zoos and rodeos and circuses, etc. All the ways we so cruelly treat God’s nonhuman animals is something we all need to ask Almighty God to forgive us for. But there is hope for God’s nonhuman animals and us through the Gentle and Lowly and Forgiving Heart of Jesus Christ, and we have His Heart and our hope (BOTH) in this Bible verse: “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners” (Isaiah 61:1). Anyone who might read and reflect on this Bible verse and want to exclude God’s nonhuman animals from the “proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners” is sorely missing out on the Good News for All God’s Creation and Creatures (BOTH). It is BOTH God’s humans and nonhuman animals for we have been sent to “bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” To exclude one of BOTH is to exclude God’s True Calling on being good stewards (“caregivers”), as in Genesis, to all His Creation and Creatures (BOTH).
As a side note, I invite any and/or all to watch my slide presentation, Compassionate Call for Christ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8Q0UA_cR-8), where I give a huge and most well-deserved shout-out to one of my true heroes, St. Francis! A true hero is not one of strength or power of one’s own (flesh, world) but one of God’s Strength and Power (SPIRIT) to extend love, compassion and mercy to God’s nonhuman animals. St. Francis did this with humbled ease to please God and ease the pain and suffering of all God’s Creation and Creatures (BOTH).
Love, blessings, and forgiveness sought for the “unGodly” treatment of BOTH God’s humans and nonhuman animals,
Timothy
Kathy Dunn
Hi Timothy, thank you for the message! I love the Isaiah passage that you quoted. If our reading at SAGC of the good news of the Gospel being for ALL creation (which scripture says it is), then all creation would be included as the recipients of this passage! AMEN Blessings and Shalom.