Greetings of love and gratitude from
Judy Carman
The overwhelming irony of Easter:
Easter was celebrated yesterday all over the world. Like so many
rituals, it has become a strange mixture of pagan, religious, and
profit-driven traditions. While it is meant to be a celebration
of spring, new life, and, for Christians, Jesus’ resurrection,
ironically and tragically it has come to mean an increase of terrible
suffering and death for millions of animals. Baby ducks, chicks,
and rabbits are sold as pets to families who will soon discard 80% or
more of them; lambs, pigs, and many others are killed for Easter
“feasts;” and millions of mother chickens living in horrible conditions
will have their eggs stolen from them for Easter games and
baskets. To further the irony, many Biblical scholars have
proposed that Jesus was engaging in an act of animal liberation when he
heroically interfered with the sacrifice of animals at the
Temple. It is possible that his crucifixion was a direct result
of this revolutionary act of defying authority and rescuing
animals.
For centuries, great teachers, including Jesus, have been trying to
bring an end to violence and the ignorant and misguided sacrifice of
innocent beings. Biblically speaking, the sacrifice of Jesus was
supposed to bring an end to sacrificing animals. Whether you consider
his story to be literal or symbolic, either way the implications are
staggeringly radical. And people are still studying the
implications (and sadly missing some of the primary points) to this
day. But we are here—millions of us—to keep explaining and
demonstrating that the destiny of humanity is to become loving and
nonviolent to all beings everywhere.
Prayer for the innocents sacrificed
for Easter: During this week following Easter we pray for
the little ones, the baby bunnies, chicks, and ducklings who have been
given as gifts; and for the mothers whose babies and eggs have been
stolen from them; and for the many animals who were killed for Easter
dinners. May all who have died find peace and love in the arms of
angels, may the broken-hearted mothers feel our compassion; and may all
those who do survive find loving homes where they can live out their
lives in dignity, safety and peace. In our prayers and focused
thoughts, we see people suddenly face to face with the great irony of
killing animals on a day dedicated to resurrection and/or the arrival
of Springtime and new birth. And out of this new insight, we see
millions of people awakening to the real meaning of springtime and the
end of sacrifice. And as we imagine this awakening, we feel an
expanding joy within us. With that joy we are able to let
unconditional love pour through us to the hearts and souls of all
people and to all life on earth. May all hearts be renewed this
spring—renewed and transformed into hearts of love and liberation for
all beings.
As always, with tears of gratitude, I send my thanks to each of you,
dear Prayer Circle members, for joining this circle of compassion and
shining the Light of Truth for all to see, so that one day soon, all
beings will live in peace together.
May compassion and love reign over all the earth for all beings
everywhere.
Thank you all for your devotion to truth, love, liberation and peace
for all beings.
With Love, peace, and gratitude from Judy Carman, and greetings from
Will, Madeleine, Tara and the Circle of Compassion team
If you haven’t already done so, please join us at the Prayer Circle for
Animals
Facebook page. You can share ideas and prayer requests
there. These updates will be posted on Facebook and on
www.circleofcompassion.org so that you can share them if you
wish. Thank you.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/prayercircleforanimals
To support our work and help us expand this ministry, please go to
http://circleofcompassion.org/donations.html
