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Good morning!

Although Descartes thought that animals lacked souls – and you could do with them as you wished - the Bible tells us the opposite "The righteous person knows the soul of his animal," says the Book of Proverbs.

But neither is the Bible sentimental. In the ancient world there were cultures that regarded certain animals as sacred. Reading Schopenhauer, one almost gets the impression that he cared more for animals than for human beings. Judaism does not go down either of these two roads. But it does regard animals as sensitive beings. They may not speak, but they do feel.

So, in Deuteronomy we read: Do not muzzle an ox when it is treading grain.

Do not plough with an ox and donkey together.

Here, is avoidance of cruelty in action: the ox is stronger than a donkey. Expecting the donkey to do the work of an ox is unfair.

The ancient Israelites were commanded to create an ideal society and within this moral ecology, respect for animals has a significant place. Animals too are part of God’s creation. They have their own integrity in the scheme of things. What is more – as we are now discovering – they are far closer to human beings than philosophers like Descartes thought.

What is being rediscovered today by science was known to us long ago because the great heroes of the Bible – Abraham, Moses, David – were shepherds. They lived their formative years watching over and caring for animals. That was their first tutorial in leadership, and they knew that this was one way of understanding God. As the Psalmist said, "The Lord is my shepherd".

Thank you Lord for teaching us that we must treat animals, as well as humans, with compassion and mercy. Amen.