Mt 7:6, 12–14
Do not give what is holy to the dogs, or throw your pearls before pigs: they might trample on them, and then turn on you and tear you to pieces.
So, do to others whatever you would that others do to you: there you have the Law and the Prophets.
Enter through the narrow gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many go that way. How narrow is the gate that leads to life, and how rough the road; few there are who find it.
REFLECTION
Jewish aberration towards unholy canines began during the times of Egyptians and Canaanites who worshipped dogs. (Rabbi Judah Elijah Schochet, Animal Life in Jewish Tradition, KTAV, 1984) Dogs and swine were Jewish derogatory terms for Gentiles. Matthew used this to signify unrepentant Christians. Probably, he copied this from a Jewish Christian community that contradicts the gospel.
On February 16th 1247, a woman of Santarem, Portugal turned to a witch for help to stop her husband’s womanizing. The witch agreed, if the woman could pay her with a consecrated Host. During communion at Stephen’s, she did not consume the Host, but took it out of her mouth and placed it in her scarf. On her way to the sorceress house, the Holy Host started to bleed and rays of light shined through. The woman’s heart started to panic. She went home and placed the Host covered in the scarf at the bottom of a chest in her room. That night the couple saw angels adoring the bleeding Host. The woman could no longer contain herself and told the great sin to her husband. The Host is still at St. Stephen’s. Sanctus res ut sanctus (holy things to the holy).
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