Enter through the narrow gate.

 

Wednesday, September 27, 2023


Psalm 68:1-20

1 Kings 14:1-18

Matthew 7:6-23


Observance: Vincent de Paul, priest and worker with the poor (d. 1660)


Enter through the narrow gate.


“There are two ways, one of life and one of death; but a great difference between the two ways.” So begins the earliest catechism of the Christian church, the Didache. The narrow gate, the way of life, the path of pilgrimage and discipleship, is the path of strife and struggle. The broad path, the way of death, the path of pleasures and pride, is the path of comfort and consumption. One is the path of great accomplishment, of duty, valour, honour. The other path is cowardice, the path of selfishness and self-aggrandisement.


The path to life is a race that we run, says St Paul. It is the valorous and dutiful soldier standing his post. It is standing for; standing for goodness, for loveliness, for holiness, for joy. There is plenty of space on the broad path; no-one looks out for anyone else, and the conscience is hardened against the very effort of trying.


When we finally pass through that narrow gate, having run the race and kept guard, there is no honour parade for our own work. This gate has been opened through the cross of Christ, and not our own suffering. Christ’s cross is foolishness to the darkened mind; what honour is there in following the victory of someone else?


But this cross, and our Christ who was crucified upon it, is what we preach. It is salvation to those who have ears to hear. The honour of entering through the narrow gate is all due to the One who opened it for us. He has even greater honour, too: He bestows on us the crown that He won. We do get a victory parade for marching through the narrow gate; the victory parade of Christ throughout all time and space. There is room for all of us who join ourselves to Him and enter through the gate He opened for us.

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