This morning, we reflected on the connections between Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who! and Jesus’ parable about a Good Samaritan. If you would like to read through the morning sermon, click the following link: A Person’s a Person. Also consider the following thoughts and questions.
- Check out this link, for an enlightening blog post about Horton Hears a Who!
- Who are the “Whos” in our local community (the people whose voices are seldom heard)? How can we help their voices to be heard?
- Jesus is asked, “Who is my neighbor?” but responds with a story that teaches about being a good neighbor. This is part of what it means to love God with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. How are you able to express your love for God in practical, neighborly ways?
- In the sermon, I suggested that love for God becomes embodied in a 3-step process of recognition, compassion, and action. What do you think? What are ways that you can do more to recognize people in pain, be moved by compassion for them, and act in helpful, appropriate ways?
- Who are the “Hortons” and “Samaritans” in our world today?
Please feel free to post your own related thoughts and questions as well. I pray that God’s Spirit would inspire each of us to live lives of radical neighborliness, like Horton and the Samaritan.
Peace, Phil
I loved hearing the context for “Horton Hears a Who” as well as the context for the Biblical passage. Context is so important when we consider the story and how it relates to our lives. I suppose I express God’s love through hosting and placing exchange students, although I don’t usually think of it in those terms. I do know that what happens is completely life-changing for the students. Sometimes that is in a spiritual sense, and sometimes not so much.
I also try to express God’s love in caring for people as their deacon.
Sometimes I notice and am sensitive and helpful towards people in pain, and sometimes not. And it is easier for me to do that nearby than in other parts of the world. Maynard is very sensitized to the hurts of people in other parts of the world but I am not as in tune to that and I should be.
Our Sunday School lesson was also based on the sermon. Question number 5 and followup discussion addressed how our gifts are connected to our calling, and how dependency drives feelings of obligation (i.e. if we don’t do it, the job won’t get done).
5. Q: Why did Horton feel an obligation to the Whos? What drove him on?
A:Because he seemed specially gifted to hear the cries of the Whos–via his super-sized ears. And of course the fact that the Whos’ survival was pretty much dependent on Horton alone.