Tuesday of the 12th week in the ordinary time of the year A
Theme: Enter by the narrow gate
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus admonishes us to do to others what we would want them do to us. He also went further by saying that we should strive to enter through the narrow gate. This is because the way that is wide will not lead us to life but rather to destruction. What Jesus is saying to us today is that we must be ready to live our lives like through children of God that we are called to be, if we want to enter through the narrow gate that leads to life. The wide gate may seem very attractive, because it is the way of the world and many people are easily attracted to it, unfortunately it leads to destruction and not life.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus is encouraging us today to live a life that is built on love and selflessness. With this type of consciousness, we will be conscious of how our actions and words will affect other people and we will be mindful of whatever we say or do. If we resolve to walk through the narrow gate, then we will be ready to walk the path of the cross, just like Jesus did on earth. It simply means that we have chosen to live a life that is founded on love and selflessness. By implication, we have chosen to swim against the waves of the world. Simply put, we are conscious of the fact that we are in the world but not of the world. The narrow gate that Jesus is presenting to us today, is the way of the cross and it is not an easy road. However, it is a difficult journey to make, but in the end it will worth all the stress and difficulties.
The saints that we celebrate in the church all chose to go through the narrow gate and they made different sacrifices for them to be able to go through the narrow gate. It is a choice that we must make as individuals and be ready to make the sacrifices that will go with the choice we have made. The good news is that amidst all the difficulties and challenges that we may have to go through, there will be light at the end of the tunnel. It is also important to point out the fact that as we go through the challenges and difficulties on our path, God’s grace will always be there to sustain us. It is not a journey we are making on our own, the grace of God will always be there to support us.
May the Lord bless his words in our hearts, in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit. Amen. Peace be with you.