I will once again plead for compassion in your holiday meals. Whether it’s ham, turkey, or roast beef that is usually at the center of your table, this year consider losing the dead carcass for something more merciful. During a holiday season that is about love, hope, generosity, good will, peace, joy, sacrifice, and religion, we should work to embody the spirit of Christmas, including at our meals.
I confess, I wish religion was more explicit on this subject. But there were no factory farms in first century Palestine on which to pass judgement. So, we are left only with His simple and constant theme of mercy, gentleness, and compassion, which we are to emulate.
Be ye, therefore, merciful, as your Father also is merciful. (Luke 6:36)
The Bible may not include an explicit story of livestock fleeing their abusers and taking refuge by His side, but there are more than a few examples of compassion towards animals.
Moses, we are told, was chosen because he rescued a stray lamb: “You who have compassion for a lamb shall now be the shepherd of my people of Israel.” When Jesus rebukes David for plotting to kill Uriah and steal his wife, he uses a story of a man slaying and eating the beloved ewe of a poor man. To Balaam, the false teacher, God actually speaks through an animal, the mistreated mule who sees the angel of heaven even before his master, asking “What have I done unto thee that thou hast smitten me these three times?”
The Old Testament has very direct orders, such as, never to yoke an ox and ass together, since the latter would suffer, or never to muzzle an ox when it’s thrashing grain, since it will desire to eat but be unable to. And how strange, in our age of factory farms, to hear the commandment that even cattle are to be given rest on the Sabbath for “a righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.”
In the story of Christmas, baby Jesus is surrounded by not only Mary & Joseph, shepherds and wisemen, but also there, are the lowly cattle, lamb, and donkey. They watched the birth of the savior as if they had some stake in the events unfolding and provided “their breath to warm the infant.” But of course when all the excitement was over, they had to return to their pens, and life as livestock. Even witnessing the birth of Christ would not give them reprieve from serving man. But they were there, they are part of the story, and without them, something important and beautiful would be missing.
Recalling these familiar passages, it reminds us of what a radical departure mankind’s outlook on animals has taken. We celebrate a God who loves and cares not only for each person, but also for all creatures. He assures us in his own words that not even a sparrow falls without His knowing. The God of Israel delights in all that He has made and all creatures sing their Creator’s praises. Yet, we torture and kill millions of His creatures to celebrate His birthday. It just doesn’t seem right.
This year, on the day we celebrate the love and compassion of our savior, choose love and compassion.
Here is a fantastic list of vegetarian holiday recipes.
____________________
Breakfast: Bagel & cream cheese
Lunch: Vegetable soup
Dinner: Spaghetti
Related Posts:
This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 at 9:00 am and is filed under Religion, Thoughts & Ramblings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
What a beautiful sentiment! It does seem that embracing peace to all living beings is what was intended… And how wonderful that we can make this happen, simply by the thoughtfulness as to what is on our plate…