Greetings of love and gratitude from
Judy Carman
The overwhelming irony of Easter:
This week many people all over the world are preparing for Easter, March
27. Like so many rituals, Easter 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 have already
been killed for Easter “feasts;” and millions of mother chickens living
in horrible condition have had 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 the Temple
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 and put a permanent stop to
sacrifice.
Prayer for the innocents sacrificed
for Easter: During this week of preparation for Easter we
pray for the little ones, the baby bunnies, chicks, and ducklings who
have died in transport and those 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. Our spirits greet their spirits and know the truth.
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
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