Let Us Show Compassion For All Of God’s Creatures
These very moving photos first appeared in a French newspaper. The photos showed a male swallow attending his mate, who’d been hit by a car and was unable to fly. The male sparrow was photographed bringing food to the female in an attempt to aid her in this critical time of need.
As the photographer continued taking photos, the female died. The male attempted to revive her by jumping on top of her, but eventually realized she was dead. The remaining photos showed what looked like screaming in anguish and sorrow.
These photos reminded me of a time, back in my early twenties, when I was walking across the Broadway Bridge in downtown Portland, Oregon. Below the bridge, just before the river, were railroad tracks. Hearing a commotion I looked over the bridge and beheld a site that has stayed with me to this day. A pigeon had been hit by a train and was lying dead on the tracks. It’s mate was circling the dead body and occasionally leaping on top in a heart wrenching attempt to revive the dead pigeon. There was a circle of about twelve other pigeons surrounding the scene, giving support to the paired couple.
We humans often, in our pride, see other creatures of God’s creation as unfeeling. Because of this failure on our part to grant what we see as human expressions of emotion and feeling, we are able to treat animals with disrespect, even cruelty.
It is good to remember the impact we may be having on the lives of animals that are raised in meat or egg producing factories, and how those animals are forced to live out their lives in pain and suffering so you may have food on our tables.
I am not suggesting that everyone become vegetarians, but I am suggesting that, as Christians, we make sure the food that is being produced for our tables is done in an humane way. We monks have been raising free range hens for our eggs, thus allowing us to distance ourselves from the egg producing factories that force hens to live in unbearable conditions.
The terror experienced by many animals is so tragic. If we must eat meat, let us consider the source, and make sure we are not indirectly contributing to the suffering of any of God’s creatures.
Patriarch Alexis II of Russia said, “Animals are our lesser brethren. They understand but cannot speak. It is for this reason that we must care for them”.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Thursday August 12, 2021 / July 30, 2021
8th Week after Pentecost. Tone six.
Eve of the Dormition Fast.
Apostles Silas and Silvanus of the Seventy and those with them: Crescens, Epenetus, and Andronicus (1st c.).
Martyr John the Soldier at Constantinople (4th c.).
New Hiero-confessor Anatole II (Potapov, the “Younger”) of Optina (1922).
New Hieromartyr John deacon (1918).
Uncovering of the relics (1484) of Venerable Herman of Solovki (1479).
Hieromartyr Polychronius, bishop of Babylon (251), and Martyrs Parmenius, Helimenas (Elimas), and Chrysotelus presbyters, Luke and Mocius deacons, and Abdon, Sennen, Maximus, and Olympius.
Hieromartyr Valentine, bishop of Interamna (Terni) in Italy (273), and Martyrs Proculus, Ephebus, Apollonius, and Abundius, youths.
Synaxis of All Saints of Samara.
“Okonsk” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
St. Angelina (Brancovich), despotina (princess) of Serbia (16th c.) (Serbia).
St. Stephen (Vladislav) of Serbia (1243) (Serbia).
Prince Tsotne Dadiani, the Confessor of Mingrelia (13th c.) (Georgia).
The Scripture Readings
1 Corinthians 10:28-11:7
28 But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” 29 “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? 30 But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Worship and the Lord’s Supper
11 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
Head Coverings
2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. 6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.
Matthew 16:24-28
Take Up the Cross and Follow Him
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Right on with this one my dear Abbot Tryphon.
John Cinciarelli
Wow! Very thoughtful commentary and something we should consider when we choose meat at the supermarket.
Thank-you so much for sharing this. The photos are powerful. A few years ago I stopped my car by the side of the road when I saw a male duck standing beside a dead female duck. He was frantic. I knew it was not safe for the living duck to be mourning on the road just over a hill. I picked up the still warm and lifeless duck and placed her safely under a tree in the grass. As I drove away the male duck was there beside her again watching over her in shade and safety. I won’t forget the heaviness I felt. It is good to be reminded of God’s creatures having emotions and consider carefully of how we treat them and how our food comes to us.
In gratitude,
That image of the duck with stay with me for a long time. God bless you for helping keep the male duck safe during his period of mourning.
Dear Father Tryphon,
Your post today brought me to tears. Animals that are suffering break my heart. Right now in California (and I think up your way, too) the animals in the wild are suffering from the heat and drought. Just this morning as my husband and I were headed to our back vineyard, we spied a juvenile coyote on the road. He was so emaciated and weak . Ordinarily I would not be happy to see a coyote on our property (we have lost some cats to them), but this one just stopped and looked at us for a long time, as if pleading for help. Lord, have mercy on Your creation.
Very sad, indeed, Mat. Betsy.
Amen! I think if only people knew about the horrifically inhumane and cruel conditions which animals must endure in today’s factory farms, it would change their purchasing habits. But so many people don’t know about this shocking situation, nor do they know about the Certified Humane alternatives. Thank you for helping to raise awareness of this.
Reading these stories and seeing the pictures made me cry. In part because I know the pain of loosing a spouse to death. It is a critical part of our humanity that we dress and keep the earth (Gen 2:15). Nevertheless I find that I must guard my heart against the political/cultural ideologies that say 1. Since we have dominion we can do anything and 2. Humans should do nothing at all with the rest of creation; indeed self- annihilation is the only way to save “nature”.
These seemingly opposite views actually have common flaws: the denial of an Incarnate Creator and the concomitant denial of the interconnectedness of all through His mercy.
God forgive me and lead me in the path of right use.