THE
NARROW DOOR
“So don’t be all upset, always concerned about what you will
eat and drink. Your Father knows that
you need these things. Instead be
concerned with His Kingdom and He will provide you with these things.” (Luke
12:29)
Jesus
went through towns and villages teaching the people and making His way towards
Jerusalem. Someone asked Him, “Sir, will
just a few people be saved?”
Jesus answered them, “Do your best to go in through the
narrow door; because many people will surely try to go in but will not be able. The Master of the house will get up and close
the door; then when you stand outside and begin to knock on the door and say,
“Open the door for us sir.” He will
answer you, “I don’t know where you come from.”
Then you will answer, “We ate and drank with you. You taught in our town.” But he will say again, “I don’t know where
you come from. Get away from me, all you
wicked people!” How you will cry and
grind your teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all the Prophets in
the Kingdom of God while you are thrown out.
People will come from the East and the West, from the North and the
South, and sit down at the feast in the Kingdom of God. Then those who are now last will be first and
those who are now first will be last.
(Luke
13:22 – 30)
Here,
Lord Jesus began this parable when someone asked Him, “Sir, will just a few
people be saved?” To those willing to be
saved, this parable gives them a good insight.
When we reach the Kingdom of God, you will find unexpected people seated
there and you will be surprised to see some of them. Similarly, when they see you, they too will
be surprised. Because the last one may be given the most priority seat whereas
those whom you thought would be first will be seen in the last row.
Don’t
misinterpret that all the last ones will be given the priority to be seated in
the first row as well as those who are first now will be placed last. But the last ones must try hard to promote to
the better places, as well as the first ones must take care of their good virtues
to remain in their place of honor. After
knowing the truth of your salvation, but still denying it, if you continue with
the same easy ways, don’t expect that you will be saved like that criminal whom Lord Jesus saved at his right side at Calvary.
Simultaneously,
the parable insists the true faithful ones to strive hard clothed in the
spiritual armor and to hold till the Righteous Judge appears. It is wise to question yourself, “Where will
I be seated – will I be the last or the first?”
Lord Jesus says, “Wherever you are there is only one way - that is the
narrow door”. He said, “Do your best to go through the narrow door. The gate to hell is wide and the road that
leads to it is easy and there are many who travel it. But the gate to life is narrow and the way
that leads to it is hard, and there are few people who find it.” (Matt 7 : 13
-14)
Can I
be one among the few faithful ones?
Run your best in the race of faith. You will understand that like a good soldier
of Christ, you are also called to partake in His sufferings. Many will appear and invite you to travel
through the wide road of fame and temporal success which attracts attention but
it leads you to disaster. You will be
called wise if you are be able to accept the hardships and sufferings of this
short life on earth joyfully hoping for the great reward that awaits ahead. Remember
that the gold has to be purified to be molded into a good medal, so also you
ought to purify your life at times by passing through hardships.
Two
roads and two drivers are given freely to us.
If you travel with Lord Jesus as your Guide, He will take you carefully
and safely to your destination and there you will enjoy your remaining eternal
life in Heaven alongwith all God’s companions.
You decide to follow Jesus Christ and He takes you to His True path
facing numerous obstacles but He who is the Good Shepherd knows to lead His
little sheep protecting them from the cruel foe.
Whereas
if you are travelling through the wide open door and the driver who does not
know what is self control and safety measures will lead you only to the shore
of disaster and he will leave you and disappear taking all his rewards leaving
you empty handed.
“Happy are those who reject the advice of evil men, who do
not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God” (Psalms 1
: 1) The path of a sinner is easy to follow but
full of covetousness. He can only serve
you the cursed fruit such as addictions, gambling, immoral life, idol worship,
murder, black magic, cowardice, cheating, lies, to lead you to the lake burning
with fire and sulphur which is the second death.
“Then I will say to them I never knew you, get away from me
you wicked people.” O Lord! On the day of
Your judgment let me not hear these words from You. Grant me Your grace to choose you and Your
army to be my guide so that the above horrible words will not fall upon my ears
and may I not be thrown out to hell where I can only cry and grind my teeth.
Dear
ones, the final decision is yours to choose, whether to go along with the crowd
through the open broad path or the few ones who chose travelling carefully
taking each step so that no poisonous snake or roaring lion can harm you
because you know Your Shepherd is your True Light and He will let you to rest
in green pastures and lead you to the quite pools of fresh water. He will provide you with new strength
everyday and His rod is strong enough to conquer your enemies. Let us carefully
correct our path so that you may confidently say to yourself that I have done
best in my race with my Lord and held the faith throughout and now I can lift
my face and look at the eyes of the Righteous Judge and wait for the victory
prize that is the entry pass to everlasting life in its completion.
ACT OF THE DAY
Through
the intercession of Mother Mary, let us offer a Holy Rosary to grant us more
intellect to choose the
right narrow door and to overcome our trials and tribulations patiently.
With love filled blessings,
Your Sister in Christ