Mt 7:6-14 Faith: A Narrow Gate

Mt 7:6-14  Faith:  A Narrow Gate

(Click here for readings)

Jesus said to his disciples:  “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction…How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.  And those who find it are few.” 

“You are so narrow-minded!” said the child to his teacher.    “Yes”, replied the teacher, “2+2=4.  Sorry.  But this truth can open up the entire Universe to our understanding.” 

Considering how wild, chaotic, cold, deadly and dark is the Universe that surrounds us; I find it amazing how one tiny place could be so ordered, calm, warm, comfortable and cozy.  It seems as though our solar system successfully passed through the narrow gate and constricted road that led to life. 

Of all the things that could have gone wrong, it is amazing how the earth went so right.  The earth avoided the wide and open gate of destruction and passed through the narrow gate and constricted road to a living organism.

Considering all the tyrannical and suppressing forces in play in evolution, it is striking just how kind it was to man.  He was given the freedom to break from instinct.  He was given a desire to paint, to build, to discover, to speak, to laugh, to sing, to cook and to love.  It seems as though man successfully avoided the wide open gate of the animal kingdom and passed through the narrow one to a king’s Kingdom.

When I consider how similar we all are in our biology; and how dependent we are to our chemistry, I find it remarkable at how unique I can be, for I have seen that I can successfully avoid being what I was conditioned or labeled to be by simply aiming for a smaller gate than the one that was left for me. 

I can travel down the less traveled road, and take aim at a much higher goal, if I take what is inside of me and wrap it around the one that went ahead of me. 

How do I do this?  How can I enter through the narrowest of gates?  How can I squeeze through the eye of a needle?  How can a grown man be born again? 

Simple:  Faith in Jesus Christ.  My faith is not based on feelings.  My faith is based on facts.  Those who wish to be great must pass through the narrow gate of humility.  I asked the Lord to humble me and he is trying.  I gave Him permission to silence me and he did.  He invited me to be simple and I accepted his invitation.  The Lord asked me to re-evaluate my goals in life and I did; I found my life.  He encouraged me to look beyond my sight; to love beyond myself; to live outside of my skin.  I will try and continue to try so help me God. 

Our desire to love and be loved has not changed.  But our way of going about it has.  It seems all the more elusive than ever before.  I find that when people experiment with what is new, thrive on what is thrilling, and seek what is appealing, they are really on an adventure to find meaning, happiness and love in their life.  I find it so tragic that after so many centuries and so many attempts, so few ever encounter what they went out in search of.  Their temptation is to think it is a lost cause.  But the road of deception is wide and open. 

Of all the choices the Lord could have made; of all the things he could have said; of all the things he could have been, He made the singular choice to avoid the wide and easy road to honors and privileges and instead passed through His Father's constricted road that leads to everlasting life. 

The probability of finding life on another planet is as remote as encountering an alien on earth.  The problem is not with the Universe.  The problem is not with God.  The problem is with us.  We may not be ready for such an arrival.

The probability of finding a canonizable Saint on earth is as remote as encountering the Lord on earth.  The problem is not with God.  The problem is with us.   We are sinners.  We think as grand and mistaken as men think and not as narrow and small as God thinks.  If only we had faith the size of a mustard seed! 

The problem is with us.  Not all of us are ready to do what it takes to be a Saint.  Not all of us may be ready to be a Saint.  We know that by the way we treated the Lord upon His arrival.