Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Spirit of the Lord is upon you.
The child you shall bear will be holy.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 7,6.12-14

'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. 'So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the Law and the Prophets. 'Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to destruction is wide and spacious, and many take it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Look down, O Lord, on your servants.
Be it unto us according to your word.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Gospel passage continues the sermon on the Mount with Jesus' exhortation to his disciples: "Do not give what is holy to dogs." The image is connected to the ancient cult in which the flesh of the victims and the fruit of the earth should be offered to God, as the Leviticus prescribes (22:1-14). Flesh should not be given to dogs that will tramp over it nor the pearls to pigs that will reject them. This sentence does not concern people who would not be suitable for the Gospel. Jesus urges us not to trivialize the Gospel, but to hold it in great consideration for our own lives and the lives of others. We should not waste the words of the Gospel nor should we throw the words of preaching to the wind. The Gospel is a very precious treasure that must be kept in great account and should not be thrown away. This is what happens every time we focus on ourselves and let the words of preaching slip away. The evangelist reports another one of Jesus' sayings: "In everything do to others as you would have them do to you." This is the way to apply the entire law and the prophets. This norm is called "the golden rule" and is present in almost all the great religions. It reflects the wisdom from on High that was placed in the heart of every man and woman. Matthew formulates it in an affirmative mode to emphasize that it is not enough just to avoid evil, it is necessary to do good. And if we read it in the context of Jesus' life, it gains the unique flavour of that love for others that knows no limits or exchanges because is totally free. The Gospel is the narrow gate that leads to salvation. We could say that is "narrow" because it is a small book, similar to a small gate. And yet, it is the door that opens to the Kingdom of God. Wide instead is the gate that leads to selfishness, pride, hatred and violence: all of these lead to "destruction", says Jesus. Let us trust the Gospel and we will be led by its light to the Kingdom of God.