August 16, 2022 at 7:19 p.m.
Squeezing through the narrow gate (or turnstile!)
Squeezing through the narrow gate (or turnstile!)
I share these ramblings of mine about subways because the turnstile, to me, gives a clear, modern-day equivalent of Jesus’ image and words 2,000 years ago about entering by the “narrow gate” and of how difficult or tricky this can be! I have, for example, often watched tourists with their backpacks or suitcases trying to negotiate through a narrow turnstile and becoming all caught up. I do not think that it is too much of a stretch of the imagination to see the baggage that those tourists are carrying that then gets caught up in the turnstile (or gate) as an image of us and our baggage or entanglements that prevent us from entering through that narrow gate that Jesus speaks of.
What do I mean? To enter by the narrow gate, that is to enter into a relationship with Jesus, means that we need to shed a good deal of baggage and clutter; otherwise we get all caught up and cannot move forward. We need, with His help, to shed all sorts of things that we may be dragging around with us and that simply will not (and should not) fit through the narrow gate. Things such as anger, bitterness, past hurts, a strange or wrong image of God, habits or attitudes that we know are mistaken or damaging, addictions and many other matters.
The words of Jesus are multi-layered; but they are especially an invitation and an encouragement to shed the load that can drag us down and that prevents us from entering through that opening into a new and life-changing relationship with Him. This is not always easy, of course. Jesus says, “strive” to enter through the narrow gate. The word in the original language of the Scriptures for “strive” is “agonizesthe,” from which our word agonize comes. Shedding the load or the obstacles in our heart, certainly can involve much effort, even agony.
Fortunately, we have many things that can help us in that process of shedding and unburdening, such as the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the Eucharist, prayer or taking part in a retreat. The giving of our time to others (especially those in need) frequently takes us out of ourselves and helps us to see a bigger picture. Perhaps a project this week might be to think of one thing, one item of excess baggage that prevents us from going through the narrow gate and, with God’s help, to do something about getting rid of it!
In reflecting on our Gospel, one last thing is most important. We should recall that Jesus’ teaching about striving to enter by the narrow gate begins with a question from a nameless person in the crowd: “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” As so often is the case, our Lord does not answer the question directly: something along the lines of “yes, only 5 percent, or 10 percent, or 25 percent will be saved.” Instead he teaches and he guides. As we look at falling numbers with the latest surveys of religious practice in the U.S., or with what is now acceptable in our culture, we may be tempted to get into those percentages, or just to shake our heads and to write off those who are not with us in church. Some even speak of a “winter church:” just a holy remnant of a few religious people.
None of this, however, is acceptable. Our First Reading was very clear: “I am coming to gather all nations and tongues” (not just a select few!). Our Lord came to save everyone. We are called to be disciple-makers, to bring others, through the narrow gate, to Christ. As St. Teresa of Avila prayed: we are to be Christ’s body, his eyes, his hands and his feet. Pope Francis often reminds us that we should not take refuge in the sacristy or the church building; but rather to be out there, attracting others to the Lord. This is not easy and it may involve much striving or agonizing; but this is what the Lord asks of us. We are left then with another question or project: not, how many will be saved, but rather, how can I be the Lord’s instrument to help and save others?
250 X 250 AD
250 X 250 AD
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250 X 250 AD
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