Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Casting your pearls before swine

  • 03-12-2012 8:38pm
    #1
    Onesimus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,055 ✭✭✭


    Was reading scripture earliar today ( Jerusalem Bible 1966 translation ).

    From the title you can guess I was reading about Jesus telling us not to cast our pearls before the swine ( Matthew:7:6 ).

    in the footnote it read ''The application is to the parading of holy beliefs and practices in front of those who cannot understand them.''

    my question is, how do we reconcile that with being told to be a light in the community and to spread our faith everywhere and to everyone?

    Would appreciate your replies.


Comments

  • #2
    Onesimus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,055 ✭✭✭Onesimus


    Found a commentary from St.Thomas Aquinas:
    It ought to be observed, therefore, what is signified by ‘holy’ and what is signified by ‘pearl.’ Augustine says: “Holy things are kept inviolate and immaculate; and precious pearls ought not to be despised.” By ‘dogs,’ which tear with their teeth, heretics are signified; by ‘swine,’ which trample with their feet, the unclean are signified. Therefore, to give holy things to dogs is to administer holy things to heretics. Likewise, if something spiritual is consecrated, and this is despised, it is given to swine. Or, by ‘holy things,’ the ecclesiastical sacraments are signified; by ‘pearls,’ the mysteries of truth are signified. A dog is an entirely unclean animal; a pig is partly unclean, and partly not unclean. By ‘dogs,’ the infidels are signified; by ‘swine,’ the bad faithful are signified. Therefore, Give not that which is holy to dogs, that is, do not give the sacraments to infidels. The ‘pearls,’ that is, the spiritual interpretations, ought not to be given to swine; “The sensual man perceiveth not these things that are of the Spirit of God” (I Cor. 2, 14), that is, lest they despise them; “A soul that is full shall tread upon the honeycomb” (Prov. 27, 7). Hence, turning, to sins, they tear, because they despise, or they raise objections. But why? Did not Christ say many things to the infidels, and they were trampling upon His words? I say that He did this for the sake of the good men who were with the bad men, who thereafter were profiting.

    Looks like its knowing who you are talking to and figuring out whether they are approaching the you and the faith to tread upon it and have merely no interest in it whatsoever that Jesus talking about. I think many of us are guilty of that here. Many come here not seeking God but only to tread upon the Holy Mysteries and precious pearl that is Christ himself.

    Its at this point we are under no obligation to carry on, but then St.Thomas tells us Jesus spoke to the infidels for the sake of those good men who were with the bad men that were seeking and profiting hmm.


Advertisement