I originally posted this at FORSMOKEY but thought it was important enough for my blog as well.
I'll be the first to admit, I'm not as religious as I used to be. I was raised Roman Catholic and their teachings have left me with a thirst for compassion and social justice. I haven't given up saying "I want this or need that." but it makes me understand the need for moderation in what I consume. Some call this "sharing the wealth" others call it charity.
At this harsh economic time in our nation's history with food, utilities and gas prices so high and our sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, wives and husbands away fighting and dying, I thought this text was appropriate to bring us back to the truest meaning of the holiday season. For Americans it's a time of plenty for some, yet still a need for so many. This poor little dog, like so many around the world, homeless and lacking care in Bangkok, Thailand, represents one part in the disparity, not only in how we treat our animals, but in our care of our brothers and sisters as well.
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." Mahatma Ghandi
Christian Community and Social Justice
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost*
Amos 6:1, 4-7, 1Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31
I was only half-heartedly thinking about these scripture texts the other day as I was reading an article on the rising number of health spas for dogs, where with compatible companions, dogs could get a complete makeover - haircut, shampoo and pedicure - topped off by a dose of aromatherapy. I was jolted back to these thoughts the other evening as I was having dinner with some friends and the conversation got around to the topic of obesity in pets and how our house pets continue to get more obese, and how we need to put our cats and dogs on more regimented work-out programs.
While pet spas may sound a bit humorous to some, they are but a symptom of the growing massive disparity in wealth in our country, the richest country in the world, with one of the highest rates of children living in poverty. Bring back Amos thundering against the complacent in Zion for their conspicuous consumption and regal living! Bring back the Psalmist who sings: "The Lord...brings justice to the oppressed." Give us the vision that the rich man in the Gospel lacked until it was too late, to see Lazarus and to know how we might best respond!
Sermon by: The Rev. Michael E. Allwein, St. James Lutheran Church, Gettysburg, PA
Photo used courtesy of: Mistifarang at Flickr.com Thank you, Toni
*Readings taken from the Christian Liturgical Year
