Posted on 08/12/2016 6:50:19 AM PDT by Salvation
I am often struck by the mystery of the relationship that dogs and cats set up with their owners. While I realize that we humans often project what we want their behavior to mean, I am still fascinated by the reality of how our pets come to “know” us and set up a kind of communication with us.
Dogs, especially, are very demonstrative, interactive, and able to make knowing responses. Cats are more subtle. My cat, Jewel, knows my patterns. She also knows how to communicate to me that she wants water, food, or just a back rub. She’s also a big talker, meowing each time I enter the room. I wish I knew what she wanted.
Yes, this interaction with our pets is indeed a mysterious thing. I am not suggesting that animals are on a par with us intellectually or morally; Scripture is clear that animals are given to us by God and that we are sovereign stewards over them.
But animals, especially our pets, are also to be appreciated as gifts of God. Scripture is also clear that animals will be part of the renewed creation that God will bring about when Christ comes again in glory:
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:6-9).
Hence, when Christ from His judgment seat shall finally say, Behold, I make all things new (Rev 21:5), and when with John we see a new heavens and a new earth (Rev 21:1), I have little doubt that animals will share in that recreated and renewed kingdom where death shall be no more (Rev 21:4).
They are part of the Kingdom! Without elevating pets (no matter how precious to us) to the full dignity of human beings, it is not wrong to think that they will be part of the Kingdom of God in all its restored harmony and beauty.
Maybe now, in the mystery of our interaction with our pets, God is giving us a glimpse of the harmony we will one day enjoy with all creation. Scripture says,
For indeed, creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God (Romans 8:19-21).
Yes, creation itself is eagerly waiting the day when God says (in the words of an old spiritual), “Oh, preacher, fold your Bible, for the last soul’s converted!” And then creation itself will be set free from its bondage to death and decay and will be gloriously remade into its original harmony and the life-possessing glory that was once paradise.
Perhaps the mystery of our pets is that they are ambassadors for the rest of creation, a kind of early delegation sent by God to prepare the way and begin to forge the connections of the new and restored creation. Perhaps they are urging us on in our task of making the number of the elect complete so that all creation can sooner receive its renewal and be restored to the glory and harmony it once had. Who knows? But I see a kind of urgency in the pets I have had over the years. They are filled with joy, enthusiasm, and the expectation of something great.
They show joyful expectation! Yes, there was a kind of joyful expectation in the dogs of my youth: running in circles around me, dashing to greet me when I arrived home, and jumping for joy when I announced a car ride or a walk. My cats have always sauntered over to meet me at the door with a meow, an arched back, and a rub up against my leg. Somehow our pets manifest this Scripture passage: Creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed (Romans 8:19).
And so do a lot of other people.
Hey, I accept the fault is mine because I have never seen Christ as the passive reflective apologetic shadow so beloved of and copied by the modern church. JP II confronted and overcame communism. Francis fawns over Islam and confronts global warming. He's John Kerry with a mitre.
For someone “not wanting to offend” I believe you are quite adept at it. You certainly were successful with me.
In my opinion( which probably doesn’t count for much),”monsignor Pope” is a fine theologian and writer.
I apologise that my frustration caused offence. But there was no intent to offend. Last post on this subject, Byron
Talk about automatic, inherent self-contradiction, not to mention chutzpah.
2) Speaking of chutzpah, this "fool" of a Fr. Pope is one of the most intelligent, effective churchmen in the Catholic Church in America today. He is the pastor of Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian, a vibrant African-American parish community in Washington, DC. which he doubled in size in ONE YEAR.
He started of as a young church musician with a degree in computer science, caught fire in the Faith, enrolled in the seminary, and has been a priest for over 25 years and a pastor for over 15. His parish has outreach programs to rehabilitate alcoholics, drug addicts and ex-cons. Msgr Pope has led Bible studies in the U.S. Congress and at the White House in past years, plus he writes an exceptionally lucid daily blog that is virtually ALL burger with very little burger-bun, plus a column at OSV, plus a lot of other writing, speaking and preaching.
And what does he write and preach about? Very unflinching stuff about sin and repentance, Jesus the Savior and the salvation H brings, doctrines, sacraments, commandants faith and morals.
Occasionally something light, like about pets.
Or something heavy like persecution. Here's one he wrote on that:
The Five Stages of Religious Persecution (LINK)
We who haven't done 1/20 as much, should really refrain from taking cheap shots at him --- don't you think?
And if you want him to speak out more about what's happening to Christians in Iraq and Syria, etc., why don't you tell him so?
You can e-mail him using this form:
Get busy, Aussie.
I feel the same way about Fulton Sheen.
Bookmark
I wish we had a like emoticon here.
Attacks on Christians, any news reports get posted on the news and current events forum.
No offence taken. Let me take another approach.
We are all ultimately going to be held responsible for the use of our time. There are people in nursing homes that would appreciate a visit. Perhaps a young couple down the street that have limited funds would benefit from having someone babysit their kids for free on a weekend night so they could have a date night. There are phone calls that could be made. Family members to visit. There are pets that can be played with and appreciated. There are books to study and contemplate. There are baseball games to enjoy.
While I certainly don’t have enough information nor the desire to judge anyone here, it seems to me we should all periodically reflect on if we are spending our time wisely and whether our allocation can be improved. Raising this issue isn’t a bad thing.
That’s easy. “Feed me, but only what I like. Pet me, but only how I like it. Other than that, leave me alone.” (cat)
Or as the saying goes: "Dogs have owners, cats have staff"
(tongue in cheek from a cat as well as dog lover)...
Well! FWIW, Msgr. Pope’s reflections on puppies and kittens was exactly what I needed. As it happens, I’ve been mad at my dog, since I broke several ribs, and Dog was partially responsible.
We were out for our morning stroll thru the orchard, when a deer bounded by, and Dog, doing what dogs do, took off like a shot in pursuit.
Unfortunately, I was holding his leash.
I went airborne, feet at least 2 feet off the ground, my entire body hovering horizontally for a full nanosecond, like Wiley Coyote poised in midair before the downward splat.
I splatted on my chest and heard a loud crack.
Dog continued tugging leash, running back and licking my face, and tugging furiously. The deer is getting away, get up! he woofed.
I crawled back to house, was taken to doctor, wrapped in a big ace bandage.
Broken ribs hurt. It hurts to move, to breathe. Coughing is to be avoided.
For days I’ve been rather sullen, hobbling about slowly, plopping Dog’s food and water in front of him, but regarding him with suspicion.
He prances, he wags, he smiles his doggy smile, he fetches his leash and begs me to walk with him, getting nothing but a scowl from me.
Dumb dog. Broke my ribs. Go walk your own self.
Msgr. Pope comes bringing a message of trust, forgiveness, of unconditional love, of order and interdependence in God’s creation, and God’s love that is everywhere, even in the domestic animals we keep for our amusement...
Well, I needed that.
And Dog needed a hug and a scratch.
See my post # 35.
What my old dog says.
Feed me
Rub my belly
Move over I’m sitting on that side of the couch.
Aside from napping now that’s about it. It is pretty amazing how humans and dogs have adapted together.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.