“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” – Jesus, Matthew 25:40

A few days ago, according to my very informative Google calendar, Thursday August 26 was – officially – National Dog Day. The day is observed across the globe, apparently, in order to put the spotlight on the countless dogs who are deprived of proper care, and need to be rescued.

I’m not going to get into the details, but the sad neglect of so many domestic animals is not only appalling, it is a commentary on the shift our country continues to experience in opposition to “putting others first”. When “my rights” become more important than “our life together,” it is not just other people who suffer, it is everything that depends on how we respond to The Golden Rule – and that includes animals.

A spiritual problem:

Animal neglect is, essentially, a spiritual problem. Failing to care for “the least of these” is not just poor theology, it is another step in the dehumanizing of humanity.

We were created as beings made “in the image of God,” and when we no longer keep God at the center of our lives we necessarily lose the fundamental reference point of what it means to be human.

Everything points back to the responsibility we have been given to love and honor our Creator, to likewise love and honor our neighbor, and to take care of all of creation.

Happy Sunday – DEREK

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