Enter by the Narrow Gate
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...We have been following one of two ways in our lives: the way of death or the way of life. Many may believe they have made no choice at all, but in so doing they really have chosen darkness. There really is a choice which should seem obvious to us. But we also know that it is not an easy choice. Still, there is no sitting in the median, no waffling. We all make decisions every day, either deliberately or unwittingly. Jesus emphasized this during his famous Sermon on the Mount where he presented many contrasting behaviors and summoned his hearers to follow the path of the “blessed.” Toward the end of that presentation, Jesus spoke of the difficulty of seeking and following the way of life: “Enter the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.” (MT 7: 13-14) The Catechism (1696) citing this text, repeats the challenge: “The way of Christ ‘leads to life’; a contrary way ‘leads to destruction.’”
We have been following one of two ways in our lives: the way of death or the way of life. Many may believe they have made no choice at all, but in so doing they really have chosen darkness. There really is a choice which should seem obvious to us. But we also know that it is not an easy choice. Still, there is no sitting in the median, no waffling. We all make decisions every day, either deliberately or unwittingly. Jesus emphasized this during his famous Sermon on the Mount where he presented many contrasting behaviors and summoned his hearers to follow the path of the “blessed.” Toward the end of that presentation, Jesus spoke of the difficulty of seeking and following the way of life: “Enter the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.” (MT 7: 13-14) The Catechism (1696) citing this text, repeats the challenge: “The way of Christ ‘leads to life’; a contrary way ‘leads to destruction.’”
Each and every day is the time for us to make this tough decision. St. Paul got it right in his Letter to the Romans: “It is the hour for you to wake from sleep. ... Let us throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day…. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provisions for the desires of the flesh.” (13:11-14) That is the key, seek true wisdom, put on Christ Jesus and the way to light is there shining before us.
This was a theme Paul developed earlier in his First Letter to the Thessalonians: “But you, brothers, are not in darkness. ... For all of you are children of the light and children of the day ... Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober.” (5:4-6)
Finally, St. John also develops this theme of light and darkness in his First Letter. Starting with the statement that God himself is light implies that our fellowship with God means not living in darkness or in a lie or contrary to the truth. (1:5-6) Rather, “This is the way we may know that we are in union with him: whoever claims to abide in him ought to live just as he lived.” (2:5-6) It is by seeing and knowing Jesus Christ that we know the implications of the choice we make if we wish to walk on that way.
At the Last Supper, Jesus told his apostles: “Where I am going you know the way.” Thomas questioned that assertion, saying they didn’t know the way. To which Jesus further stated: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14:4-6)
It seems clear to me that the choice for or against God is something that must be made. The irony is that if we do not opt for God, we are, by default, opting against him. There really is no neutral ground here. As we begin this new year, let us do what we probably need to do every day: ask for daily bread certainly, but also that God’s will be done in us, that we choose to walk in his ways.
Bishop Earl Boyea is the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing.