The subject today is food—we all love it, but do we ever stop to think how much other creatures do, too?  Max the dog and Matilda the cat share their tips.  Max: “We advise dogs and cats, never eat food from your own bowl, if you can steal some from the table.  Especially if it’s steak. Or chicken. Or fish. Or….” 

Matilda: “If our dish is empty, we like to like to let you know when you can’t ignore us—such as when you’re in bed or the bathroom. We do apologize if we’re loud and persistent, but—you humans seem slow to get the point at times.”

“Finally, we are so grateful for your abundant provision.  So, if we catch something on our own, we like to bring it inside and leave it as a “love gift” for you. Because sharing our food with you is the highest form of charity—the gospel is written on our hearts, too, you know!”

Today’s Psalm 145 says: “The LORD is good to all, compassionate to every creature…. You satisfy the desire of every living thing.” Feeding hungry animals and humans is a major Work of Mercy. But a deeper meaning is that God is in such a profound relationship with every creature that God actually “satisfies the desire of every living thing.”  But—do we know what we desire?

For animals, it’s more basic. Humans are told to desire wealth, success, lots of new things every year.  But cravings aren’t the deepest desires of our heart—they only make us captive to the demands of the world.  Our deepest desire is to be one with Christ, to bring God’s love to the whole world. So, see your cravings for what they are.  Be thirsty, instead, to build God’s kingdom of peace, health, and wellness for all creatures.