February 1, 2020
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Christian Reflection
“Just as white light consists of colored rays,
so ‘reverence for life’ contains all components of ethics:
Love, kindliness, sympathy, empathy, peacefulness and power to forgive.”
“Until human beings extend their circle of compassion to all living things they will not find peace themselves.”
“The ethics of ‘reverence for life’ makes no distinction between higher and lower, more precious and less precious lives. It has good reasons for this omission. For what are we doing, when we establish hard and fast gradations in value between organisms, but judging them in relation to ourselves, by whether they seem to stand closer to us or farther from us? This is wholly subjective standard. How can we know the importance other living organisms have in themselves and in terms of the universe?”
“Ethics becomes spiritual when it puts us in harmony with the universe. As the universe seems to move toward complexity and toward life, then ‘reverence for life’ and all that that means, seems to be the basis of ethics.”
“The ethic ‘reverence for life’ is the ethic of Love widened into universality”
Dr. Albert Sweitzer
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Based on Matthew 25: 31-45
Reimagined In Light of the above Quotes
When Jesus comes in the fullness of time, the Humble One will have something to say about how we treated one another. Gathered with Jesus will be the peoples of the World. To the astonishment of many, the Blessed One will say to those who were kind, self-giving, and compassionate, “Come receive the blessings of your generosity, mercy, and self-giving.
| For I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was naked and exposed and you gave me clothing and shelter. I was sick and you comforted me. I was in prison and you visited me. I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” |
The astonished will say, “When did we ever see you in such a condition and offer you help and comfort?” Ah, said the Humble One, “when you did it to the least of mine, you did it to me!” The lowly smiled and welcomed those who feared they failed to the banquet that never ends.
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