21st Sunday of Ordinary time - Enter through the Narrow Gate (Lk 13:22-30)

Enter through the Narrow Gate (Lk 13:22-30)

Introduction

- We usually broaden the roads in the cities to reduce traffic jam.

- We build new houses to have more space to be comfortable.

- We study to broaden our intellect and vision.

- But Christ says - travel through the narrow gate. What does it mean?

Explanation

- Look at the gospel passage about the temptation of Jesus Christ before His public ministry. There we see saten shows Jesus the “broad way” to fulfill the mission – by converting the stones into bread to satisfy the hunger of the people, by jumping from the top to get acceptance in the community, and by adoring saten to be powerful. But Jesus never accepted that. He selected the narrow way, the way of suffering and death, for our salvation.

- In another instance Jesus scolds Peter, “Saten, go away from me because your ways are not of Gods.” Peter was preventing Jesus in His way of cross and inviting to embrace the broad way. But Jesus rejected it and clearly stated that the narrow way is the way to salvation.

- The advice of a parent to the son on the first day of his college, “Son, you are going to spend around 4 years in this campus. You have two ways in front of you, the way of relaxing and making always merry, and the way of hard work. If you select the first way of relaxation and laziness you may enjoy the 4 years but regret thereafter. But if you select the second way you may miss some of your enjoyment in these 4 years but will enjoy the life thereafter. You have to make a choice between broad way and narrow way”.

- Every moment we have two options to choose. For example, while participating in the holy mass we have two choices. The broad way would be sit, relax, dream and plan for the future. The narrow way would be attend actively by saying the prayers, singing the hymns and meditating over the mysteries of the Eucharist. The way of Jesus is the narrow way.

Conclusion

- We love people who travel through the narrow way. For example, mother Theresa who took the narrow way of suffering for the poor became our model. The present president Noynoy who seems to be fighting against corruption is our dear President.

- Let us reflect on which path we prefer to go through. Ask God’s grace and courage to travel through the narrow path, the way of salvation.