(Audio)
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 sacred should be treated as sacred. This is why the Church reserves the Eucharist to Catholics only. It isn't that in once sense she does not want to share. It is rather that the world is ill-equipped to appreciate or understand what is given under the appearances of bread and wine. The world is wont trample our sacred things. The name of God and the name of Jesus are just foremost among examples of this. But the world need not remain unappreciative dogs and swine. They can become human, in proof of which we look to ourselves. We too are only able to honor the sacred by the grace of God.
Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the Law and the Prophets.
We are called to love others as ourselves. We do not want anyone to abuse and misuse sacred things. But we ourselves want to be gathered around the banquet of the lamb of God in heaven. And so we must want this for others. We desire ourselves to be free from grave sin so that we may keep the feast. So too must we desire purity for others. There isn't one standard for others, where we will that they get whatever they think they want, and one for ourselves, where we desire the divine union promised by God. We were all made for God and our hearts our restless until we rest in him.
Is not the whole land at your disposal?
Please separate from me.
If you prefer the left, I will go to the right;
if you prefer the right, I will go to the left.
We are called to be willing to let go of mere preference in order to maintain bonds of unity and charity. The gate is narrow to salvation precisely because we have a hard time letting go of all the things we have. We want to bring wealth with us through the gate. Our horses and our camels are laden with the fine saddles of our preferences. They are encumbered by bags containing the food and skins containing the drinks that delight us. But we can only bring those virtues and relationships which leave us unencumbered. The true feast awaits on the other side.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few.
How do we find the gate? We leave aside anything nonessential if God commands. We treat and honor the sacred as sacred. We will the good of others, actively, and intentionally. If we do these things we will certainly find the gate and the road to life.
He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
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