In a world or society where convenience and efficiency are two of the most revered values, the exhortation of Jesus in the Gospel this weekend, to “enter into the narrow gate”, poses a real challenge. Why choose the narrow gate when there are other gates widely open that do not demand as much work as our faith? Why practice the values and virtues of Catholic morality when it is hugely unpopular in the secular world? Why
inconvenience myself with going to Church on Sundays and holy days when the popular trend outside is that as long as I do good works and deeds and pray at night I am fine? Why subject myself to so many rules and commandments of faith, when I can live my life freely without anyone telling me how to live my life, whom should I marry, and how should I take care of own body? The summarizing question is: why choose the narrow gate and not the other gates that are widely open?
Jesus himself gave us the answer to that question. I truly find great comfort that it is Jesus himself who made very clear for us that in order to realize our ultimate flourishing and in order for us to experience eternal life, one has to work hard for it, and one has to re-orient his/her values to the teachings of Christ and not just pick and choose what is convenient and easy for us to follow. The reason why the door or the gate to heaven is “narrow” is because it is not the easiest road to travel, the least popular, and just like what we heard several weeks ago in the Gospel, it can divide families – father against his son, daughter against her mother, etc. We know the narrowness of this gate probably from our own very experience. It is easier to go shopping for the whole day than to spend an hour in Church to listen to a boring homily; it is easier to click something on the internet that damages our call to purity and chastity than to see our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit; it is easier to watch reality TV shows, like Bachelorette or fascinating evening series like CSI Miami or Criminal Minds, than spending quality conversations with God and prayer; and, of course, how convenient and easier it is to talk to a friend or family member on Facebook than actually visiting and spending time with them in person. We see now why Jesus said in the Gospel that the gate towards our own salvation is narrow.
The second reading today from the Book of Hebrews
counsels us what it takes to enter into the narrow door. We hear these words, “My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges. Endure your trials as ‘discipline’.” Then it continues “all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed.” Those are very beautiful and timely
advice from the Book of Hebrews, written thousands of years ago, but still very relevant to our time.
Discipline seems to be a negative term nowadays. It seems that it takes away freedom and personal choice, but if we really think about it, freedom and personal choice can only be truly real, authentic and liberating if we see them from the perspective of God who is the source of these things that we enjoy. There is no real freedom and choice if it is devoid of the very fundamental reality that we are all created in God’s image and likeness. If we truly believe in this fundamental truth of faith, then all our actions, choices and lifestyle will have to be measured vis a vis this sublime truth. If I am truly convinced that I am created in God’s image and likeness, then I have to do everything possible, everything possible without exaggeration, to live up to that dignity that I do share with God. I would have to get rid of those things that taint that dignity that God gives me, and all of my
choices and the exercise of this freedom that I value have to honor this identity that I got from my Creator. Anything that contradicts this truth is to deny the reality of whom I am. And to deny who I am is to live a big lie; therefore, I cannot truly be happy. For indeed, how can I be truly happy if I am not being true to whom I am?
In the Gospel, Jesus also clarifies a very important point in our journey to salvation. He talks about those people who were knocking and pleading if they could enter the door, but the Master refused to let them in because the Master doesn’t really know them, to which the people replied, “We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.” To which the Master also replied, “I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’” This tells us that “eating and drinking” with the company of Christ in the
Eucharist does not guarantee us salvation. To be part of his company in virtue of being baptized in the faith does not immediately guarantee us a place in heaven. Salvation
requires our collaboration with the grace of God being offered to us; it requires living out wholeheartedly the commitment that we have received in virtue of our own baptism, through our own unique vocation. To live out wholeheartedly our Christian life does not mean just picking and choosing what is applicable and convenient to us, but rather a total embrace of God’s will for us. I clarified this before already, but it is still worth mentioning again. There is a huge difference between redemption and salvation. Redemption is what Christ did on the cross once and for all; when he died for us, he redeemed us. But salvation is our personal and ecclesial response to that redemptive work of Christ. That’s why the Catechism of the Catholic Church defines salvation as already, but not yet, a paradox. Already because half of the work is done through the redemptive work of Christ; the other half is our own work, our collaboration and witnessing to the redemptive work of Christ. What kind of door are you pursuing right now? Many doors are open, widely open— some of you don’t even have to exert any effort to enter; some even have limousines to take us to the doors; and some are adorned with red carpet to welcome us— but let us take a moment and ask ourselves, is this really the door that God is calling me to enter? Be careful: some of these doors have no doorknobs from inside—once you’re in, it’s pretty hard to come out. Let us listen again to the Book of Hebrews: “strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed. “ – Fr. Cary