The narrow gate that leads to life
Published Aug 21, 2022 12:05 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY
LUKE 13:22-30
Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
In ancient times, the gate of the city was one of its most important structures. It was through the gate that people entered the city and went out to tend their farms or their flock. The gate served as a defense against enemy attacks. Business and legal transactions were also done at the gate (Ru 4:1-3). As symbolic of his care for his flock, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, declares, “I am the gate for the sheep” (Jn 10:7).
In the Gospel, Jesus invites his disciples to strive to enter through the narrow gate. The gate that is small and narrow leads to life, while the gate that is wide and broad leads to destruction (Mt 7:13-14). The narrow gate symbolizes the great effort required for entrance to the Kingdom of God. It symbolizes the following of Jesus in the path of suffering that leads to salvation.
“Lord, will only a few people be saved?” Jesus does not give a precise answer, but counsels avoiding the wide and broad gate. Those who follow the “wide gate” are people who do what they like or desire. Many people love this path because they are totally free to do whatever they like, with no restrictions. The people on the wide road often say: “I make my own rules! I believe what I want! And I do what I want!” This is the way of the undisciplined person who wants all joys and no pain, who only thinks of himself without regard to others. For a while, the person may seem to gloat in his absolute freedom, but he will end up in a hell-like life, like a drug addict spinning to destruction.
On the other hand, those who strive to enter the narrow gate and follow the “narrow road” pass through the path that requires self-denial and obedience to God. This leaves no room for consuming desire for earthly wealth or goods, for possessing an unforgiving spirit, for boasting of one’s righteousness. Those who follow the road of self-denial in favor of loving others will ultimately find the path of righteousness that leads to the gate of heaven.
Knowing the Lord and the Gospel is not enough. It is necessary to live the life that Jesus lived, and to put his words into practice. This is entering the narrow gate.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
LUKE 13:22-30
Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
In ancient times, the gate of the city was one of its most important structures. It was through the gate that people entered the city and went out to tend their farms or their flock. The gate served as a defense against enemy attacks. Business and legal transactions were also done at the gate (Ru 4:1-3). As symbolic of his care for his flock, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, declares, “I am the gate for the sheep” (Jn 10:7).
In the Gospel, Jesus invites his disciples to strive to enter through the narrow gate. The gate that is small and narrow leads to life, while the gate that is wide and broad leads to destruction (Mt 7:13-14). The narrow gate symbolizes the great effort required for entrance to the Kingdom of God. It symbolizes the following of Jesus in the path of suffering that leads to salvation.
“Lord, will only a few people be saved?” Jesus does not give a precise answer, but counsels avoiding the wide and broad gate. Those who follow the “wide gate” are people who do what they like or desire. Many people love this path because they are totally free to do whatever they like, with no restrictions. The people on the wide road often say: “I make my own rules! I believe what I want! And I do what I want!” This is the way of the undisciplined person who wants all joys and no pain, who only thinks of himself without regard to others. For a while, the person may seem to gloat in his absolute freedom, but he will end up in a hell-like life, like a drug addict spinning to destruction.
On the other hand, those who strive to enter the narrow gate and follow the “narrow road” pass through the path that requires self-denial and obedience to God. This leaves no room for consuming desire for earthly wealth or goods, for possessing an unforgiving spirit, for boasting of one’s righteousness. Those who follow the road of self-denial in favor of loving others will ultimately find the path of righteousness that leads to the gate of heaven.
Knowing the Lord and the Gospel is not enough. It is necessary to live the life that Jesus lived, and to put his words into practice. This is entering the narrow gate.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.