“Lord, will only a few people be saved?”
This question from today’s Gospel has been asked many, many times through the ages. But, often what is being asked is: “Will I be saved?”, “Will I be among the select few?”
And what does Jesus say? “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” Simply put, to enter through the narrow gate is to FOLLOW Jesus, to love what Jesus loved, and to live like Jesus lived.
Wasn’t this part of our Gathering Prayer today at Mass, “Grant your people to love what you command and to desire what you promise.”
But Father Joe, what might be some ways we can live lives and enter through the narrow gate?
- STRIVE to be “compassionate as your Heavenly Father is compassionate.”
- STRIVE to “FORGIVE 70 times 7, as your Father does.”
- STRIVE to “Seek first the Kingdom of God.”
- STRIVE to be of SERVICE.
- STRIVE to be among those to whom the Lord says, “I was in need and you helped me.”
There is no doubt following the example of Jesus our Lord and Savior is not always easy. It may well be inconvenient, it may well be something we would rather avoid. Maybe that’s also what makes it a “narrow gate” in our journey of life and faith in living our love of God and others…
May we keep striving, as person, family and Parish to FOLLOW Jesus, to love what Jesus loved, and to live like Jesus lived.