Why we should not give holy things to dogs?

Gospel Thoughts

*Ordinary Season : 12th Week -  Tuesday*

*GOSPEL - Mt 7:6, 12-14*

*First Reading - Gn 13:2, 5-18*

*Why we should not give holy things to dogs?*

*Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not give what is holy to dogs*

*1)  The symbolic meaning of the word 'dog'*

Dog is an animal, and dog has only animal nature 

Almost all animals move according to their instincts. They do not follow reason and the concept of morality is not found in animals 

So the dog is not able to understand the value of holy things and in this context giving to them holy things is a useless exercise

That's why Jesus says Do not give what is holy to dogs 

*2) Dog inside our life*

Human beings have two natures. Basically we are animals, but in us there is human nature and also divine nature 

Since we have the animal nature, we have all instincts like that of animals, only with the difference, of reason and concept of morality

Animals do not have reason and morality, but we have reason and morality along with animal nature 

The concept of dog represents the animal nature in us 

*3) How far dog has grown in my life?*

This is one of the questions of our life 

The following things represent *dog* in our life 

The instinct for bodily pleasure

The instinct for for, food drink, pleasure

The instinct for protecting oneself than others 

The instinct for the survival at the cost of others life 

Apart from this we can also include these things, brutality, greed, selfishness, etc 

*4) The danger of dog becoming strong in our life*

The moment the above elements, which represent dog, become strong, we become week in our human nature and in divine nature 

When the animal nature in us is very powerful, we crave for things just like animals in our life, forgetting the aspect of morality and reason 

So this is very dangerous in our life 

*5) We can't give holy things to dogs*

The moment the animal nature is very strong in us, all our holy things become powerless

They fail to yeild desired results in our life, because the strong animal nature in us either will ignore the holy things or they will not allow to act in our lives 

*6) The need of removing the dogs from our life*

First of all we need to control dogs or so called animal nature in our life 

For this we need to realise the importance of the human and divine nature and the purpose of our life 

We are not called upon to live like animals but like human beings. For this we need the following things 

-Right use of the reason 

-Importance of the Morality 

-Disciplined way of life 

-Value based life 

-Upholding the truth and justice 

-Service and sacrifice 

The moment we practice these above things, the human/divine nature in us becomes strong and we are able to live a holy life 

*7) Am I giving holy things to dog in my life?*

Which nature is strong in me 

Animal, or human/divine nature?

Do I fail to see any growth in my spiritual life, in spite of many spiritual things? If so the animal nature or various dogs are very powerful in me 

Check whether I am giving the Holy things to dogs in my life? 

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*