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Writer's pictureMary Jo Barr

Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time



Gospel  MT 7:6, 12-14


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.“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.

This is the Law and the Prophets.“Enter through the narrow gate;

for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,

and those who enter through it are many.

How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.

And those who find it are few.”


REFLECTION

What is the value of a pearl?


If you research how pearls come to be, you'll find that they start out from a grain of sand or bit of shell. Pearls are formed inside of creatures like clams or oysters. The sand or rock gets inside these mollusks and causes them a lot of irritation. To keep it from being an aggravation, the creature excretes something that makes it smooth.

After many coats of the excretion the pearl is formed.


Pearl jewelry was discovered in the tomb of a Persian Princess who died in 520 BC.

Historically, only royalty wore pearls. The Greeks thought that pearls were the tears of gods. Pearls were precious and considered a sign of wealth or status.


“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.


What is Jesus telling his disciples?

Jesus wants his disciples to go and speak the truth to others But if they do not open their ears and mind to what you speak, then don't waste your effort to convince them.


An example is that after Mass we pray the rosary with those who can stay. After we finished our prayers an announcement was made about praying the rosary between 3 -4:00 pm at the same time that people were praying in Medjugorje. Then we walked out of church. A person followed us and asked, “Why did you tell people to pray the rosary while the visionaries pray in Medjugorje for peace?” He continued before anyone could answer and asked," Is Medjugorje approved by the Church?" We answered, "No, not yet!" Then his voice got louder and he continued to accuse us of misleading people. We simply asked him, "Is it against the Church to pray the rosary for peace in the World?" He continued to make judgemental statements about the authenticity of the apparitions and so on. Calmly one of us said, "She understood his concern, but it isn't up to us to decide what is happening there because that is what the local bishop or the Holy See investigates." Until they complete the investigation and rule on it, then we will obey their decision. He left us shaking his head.


This is what Jesus is teaching His disciples. Don't waste what is valuable if a person or group will not listen. They will "trample the pearls under their feet." Then be charitable and pray for them.


Let's pray to the Holy Spirit to discern to whom His words will be received.

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