“Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls in front of pigs, or they may trample them and then turn on you and tear you to pieces.”
I had always found this passage harsh and thought to myself just pass it over and hold onto the rest of the passage which I can grasp better and apply. However over the years I see the truth and wisdom in it, having to deal with very stubborn people who refuse to listen to the call to holiness and to change so as to lead others. Refusing to be led or to lead; and simply refusing to ‘Come and See’ They prefer to gossip and rip others to pieces and are content to live as they are. And majority of them are from within the Church. Afterall hostile reactions if any, from outside is more or less expected. Yet many have heard with open hearts and received His loving embrace.
Then another truth I see in this passage is what about me? Am I striving for holiness? Such that I can receive fully that which is Holy? Do I fight to avoid all temptations so as not to be soiled? Do I seek the sacrament of reconciliation as often as needed to be fully reconciled with the Lord my God? Am I humble to hear His words and will for me through those He had sent to admonish me?
The battle is often within ourselves not with others outside. And even if it were with others from outside; If God is for us, many in the world will be against us. We know we are to expect the same sufferings that Christ endured on earth (1 Peter 4:12-19). “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) Amen
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga pray for us….
First reading
2 Kings 19:9-11,14-21,31-36
The Lord protects Jerusalem from Sennacherib and the Assyrians
Sennacherib, King of the Assyrians, sent messengers to Hezekiah saying, ‘Tell this to Hezekiah king of Judah, “Do not let your God on whom you are relying deceive you, when he says: Jerusalem shall not fall into the power of the king of Assyria. You have learnt by now what the kings of Assyria have done to every country, putting them all under the ban. Are you likely to be spared?”’
Hezekiah took the letter from the hands of the messenger and read it; he then went up to the Temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. Hezekiah said this prayer in the presence of the Lord, ‘O Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, enthroned on the cherubs, you alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth, you have made heaven and earth.
‘Give ear, Lord, and listen.
Open your eyes, Lord, and see.
Hear the words of Sennacherib
who has sent to insult the living God.
‘It is true, O Lord, that the kings of Assyria have exterminated all the nations, they have thrown their gods on the fire, for these were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, and hence they have destroyed them. But now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, I pray you, and let all the kingdoms of the earth know that you alone are God, Lord.’
Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah. ‘The Lord, the God of Israel,’ he said, ‘says this, “I have heard the prayer you have addressed to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria.” Here is the oracle that the Lord has pronounced against him:
‘“She despises you, she scorns you,
the virgin, daughter of Zion;
she tosses her head behind you,
the daughter of Jerusalem.
A remnant shall go out from Jerusalem,
and survivors from Mount Zion.
The jealous love of the Lord of Hosts shall accomplish this.”
‘This, then, is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria:
‘“He will not enter this city,
he will let fly no arrow against it,
confront it with no shield,
throw up no earthwork against it.
By the road that he came on he will return;
he shall not enter this city. It is the Lord who speaks.
I will protect this city and save it
for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.”’
That same night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. Sennacherib struck camp and left; he returned home and stayed in Nineveh.
Gospel
Matthew 7:6,12-14
Treat others as you would like them to treat you
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls in front of pigs, or they may trample them and then turn on you and tear you to pieces.
‘So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophets.
‘Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to perdition is wide and spacious, and many take it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.’
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