CASTING PEARLS BEFORE SWINE
(Friday, June 28)
“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” (Mt 7: 6)
What does our Lord mean here; 1. by “what is holy” and by our “pearls,” and 2. Who are the “dogs” and “swine” before whom we are not to offer these? 1. The “holy” and the “pearls” in us are our God-like and God-given gifts, like love, faith, wisdom, fear of God, desire (both spiritual and physical), beauty (both spiritual and physical), creativity, compassion, etc. 2. The “dogs” and “swine” on whom we might be tempted to waste our God-given gifts and energies are not other people, because we are never to regard other people as “dogs” or “swine.” They are rather the evil spirits that may entangle us in sinful obsessions, like lust, love of money or power (and wanting control over another person or people), vainglory, self-centered fear, idleness, despondency, etc. For example, in the widespread case of so-called “unrequited love,” (which is more of a lust than a love, if we persist in offering it in ways that are unwelcome), we might find ourselves giving away all our love, all our desire, all our beautiful, God-given energies not to the visible, flesh-and-blood human being who is the object of our “love” (because he or she has no use for it, for whatever reasons), but to a ravenous spirit that is “tearing us in pieces.” As St. Paul writes, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world…” (Eph 6: 12) Note that we might slip into this kind of rut not necessarily with some romantic interest; it can also happen with our not-romantic “loves,” like with our (estranged) children, parents or siblings. We might also over-extend ourselves into certain activities or things that we “love,” but that can’t love us back.
Today, if we find ourselves being “torn to pieces” by some obsession, be it lust or workaholism or something else, let us not become bitter against other people or another person, nor against ourselves. Let us, first, recognize the value of “what is holy” and what are precious “pearls,” in us. And then, let us gratefully and prayerfully place ourselves and our gifts where they belong, before God, asking Him to re-direct our love, desire, and beauty toward His purpose for us, as we forgive ourselves and others for the whole story of our “sin” (i.e., our “amartia” or “missing the mark” of our God-given purpose or vocation) and re-embrace our freedom to move forward. Let’s also respect the freedom of others, to make their own choices. Thank You, Lord, for guiding and keeping us, as Your precious works-in-progress, full of precious “pearls,” even when we don’t put them to proper use. Glory be to You.
