Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020

“‘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.” Jesus is known for colourful and also mysterious turns of phrase: what on earth does this one mean? St Augustine says: “The dogs are those that assault the truth; the swine we may not unsuitably take for those that despise the truth. Therefore because dogs leap forth to rend in pieces, and what they rend, suffer not to continue whole, He said, Give not that which is holy to the dogs; because they strive to the utmost of their power to destroy the truth. The swine though they do not assault by biting as dogs, yet do they defile by trampling upon, and therefore He said, Cast not your pearls before swine.” In other words: sure we may know the truth of something. But it’s not always smart to say it. Any authentic sharing of the truth needs to be coloured by charity, prudence and patience. Let us ask God to make us prudent and loving witnesses of the truth.