6 - 27 - 17 Pigs, Dogs, and Photographs


6 – 27 – 17

“all the land that you see I will give to you and your descendants forever.”

God has great plans for us. Far greater than we could imagine for ourselves, and I suspect in most cases somewhat greater than we want for ourselves. Indeed I think many of us are not scared off from faith because it is boring, but because it is intimidating.

Consider what would happen if we really dedicated our existence to following God’s will. Imagine the chances we’d have to take, the risks we’d endure. I find the possibility far more exciting than any Marvel movie, and its converse is deathly boring.

To be wicked, not necessarily a criminal, is a very simple thing to do. It is almost always easy to predict what the selfish person will do. It is neither very gratifying, for there are never any testing moments, never any triumphs of spirit. One’s end goal is the material comforts and pleasures of this world, which are only satisfying in their moment and measure. They provide no additional or lasting reward as do honest pursuits. 

In contrast, saints always seem to live a life significantly different and more interesting than those around them. They are often misunderstood, because they are living at a different level. Just as the Lord says that His ways are not our ways, I believe that there is a certain hierarchy of understanding when it comes to motive. I think most people understand Stalin’s motives for the officer purge, I don’t think Stalin could really grapple with the idea of willing martyrdom for a nation (or kingdom) that does not exist in the usual sense. I think those who are closest to God have a better insight into human nature than those who try to learn of human nature directly.

It makes sense really. If we are created in God’s image we should learn more about ourselves from the original than from a copy. What the faithful are doing is touching, smelling, examining the real object. They can adjust the lighting in the room to attempt to discern new facts about its nature. Those who study mere people are looking at photographs, guessing textures, unaware of any scents.

We are all called to be saints, we are called to greatness. For to be a child of God is a most glorious thing.

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

The first bit of this selection from Matthew 7 could use a bit of background. Proverbs 26:11 “Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.” I think the fact that pigs have little regard for jewelry, and can be quite dangerous and vicious, is clear enough.

It seems that the most immediate meaning of this saying is very similar to when Jesus told his disciples to “shake the dust of their sandals” at towns that would not welcome them. He does not want us to begrudge those who will not take his teaching. It is not our responsibility that they learn, it is our responsibility that we teach. It will be more profitable for us and for the Kingdom if we do not waste our time on those who have already written us off and move on to fresh ears that may be more willing to hear the message.

I think Jesus’s imperative grows wider than this however. Throwing pearls before swine means giving something valuable to someone who does not appreciate it. We can see how this translate to other theaters of our life. In our romantic lives, we should not offer what is holy, our bodies, to dogs, those who do not respect us or treat us in the proper way. In our personal lives there is no imperative to continue in an abusive friendship. And in our professional lives we do not need to continue working somewhere we are not appreciated.

Why is it so important? Won’t they just hurt our feelings?

No, Jesus chooses swine for a reason. If we willingly subject ourselves to meaningless abuse every day we may find our dignity torn apart, and our will broken. Note here, I am not saying that we should avoid difficulty and those that treat us badly, if we did that we should never grow in resilience or virtue. I am speaking of meaningless suffering, that type of displeasure that offers no lesson with its sting.

In the first reading, Abram built another altar. It seems that every time we hear of him, he is building or has just built an altar. I wrote yesterday of how he built an altar in the midst of traveling, now he is building one just after the Lord has promised Canaan to him. The example is clear, pray always, and everywhere, and on every occasion.

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