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Jesus said to his disciples: “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.” Matthew 7:6
Today’s Gospel contains one of Christ’s more difficult teachings.
At first glance, His words seem harsh. Yet they reveal a profound
truth: the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven require a heart
properly disposed to receive them. Divine truths are not to be
offered indiscriminately, especially to those who would treat them
with scorn or hostility. Faith is essential to receive and
understand the deeper mysteries of God. Jesus expressed a similar
principle at the Last Supper when He told the Twelve: “I have much
more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes,
the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth” (John
16:12–13).
Though Jesus, as the eternal Word of God, possessed perfect and
complete knowledge of divine truth, He did not reveal everything to
His disciples all at once. Had He done so, they might have been
overwhelmed. Even His closest followers often struggled to grasp
His teachings, misunderstanding His words and resisting difficult
truths. Yet Christ unveils the mysteries of His Kingdom gradually,
according to each person’s ability to receive them.
The divine mysteries are so deep, vast, and profound that we will
only fully comprehend them when we behold God face to face in the
Beatific Vision. Until then, His deeper truths remain veiled. This
does not mean we should cease seeking them; rather, as we grow in
faith and knowledge of God, He lifts the veil little by little,
drawing us closer to Himself. As we progress in holiness, He
perfects within us the spiritual Gift of Wisdom, which ultimately
deepens our love for Him.
The pearls Jesus refers to symbolize these divine
mysteries—treasures of divine Wisdom that must be sought,
cherished, and received with reverence. This principle of gradual
revelation is also seen in the ministry of Saint Paul. After his
dramatic conversion, Paul received extraordinary spiritual
insights, yet he recognized that his listeners were not always
ready for the fullness of divine teaching. To the Corinthians, he
wrote: “Brothers, I could not talk to you as spiritual people, but
as fleshly people, as infants in Christ. I fed you milk, not solid
food, because you were unable to take it” (1 Corinthians
3:1–2).
Like Saint Paul, when God grants us glimpses of His divine Wisdom,
we must treasure these revelations, ponder them in faith, and allow
Him to deepen His communication with us. At the same time, as we
share our faith with others, we must be mindful of their openness
and capacity to receive what is holy—the pearls of divine truth.
Though the saving message of the Gospel must be preached to all,
the deepest mysteries are attained only through prayer and an
interior receptivity to grace.
When Jesus warns, “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your
pearls before swine…”, He is not discouraging evangelization.
Rather, He is teaching us that not everyone is immediately
receptive to the hidden mysteries of the Gospel. Some might reject
it outright, treat it with indifference, or even respond with
hostility. Thus, just as Saint Paul recognized the need to nourish
spiritual infants with milk, not solid food, we too must exercise
prudence in sharing the deepest divine truths, ensuring that they
are offered in a way that hearts are prepared to
receive.
Reflect today on your own openness to God’s eternal truth. Are you
like an infant in need of spiritual milk? If so, drink that milk
eagerly, allowing it to nourish your soul. As you mature in faith,
devote more time to prayerful contemplation of God’s Word, seeking
His wisdom with a receptive heart. If God entrusts you with the
role of feeding others, do so with love and gentleness, discerning
the pearls God wants you to share. Only by first being receptive
ourselves will we be prepared to be the instruments and evangelists
that God calls us to be.
Lord of Eternal Wisdom, the mysteries of faith are vast and
beyond my comprehension without Your grace. Draw me ever closer to
You, unveiling Your hidden presence and the precious pearls of Your
Truth. Deepen my understanding, that I may ponder Your mysteries
with a receptive heart. As I grow in faith, use me as You will to
nourish others according to their need, leading them ever deeper
into Your divine Wisdom. Jesus, I trust in You.
Image: Our Eucharistic Lord, by Lawrence OP, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
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