Entering by the narrow door
A cat scratches at heaven’s gate. St Peter opens the door, looks down and says, “what is it now, in or out?”
You know why the gates of heaven are always left open? Because Jesus was born in a barn.
It is pleasant to joke about heaven’s gate, but Jesus warns us to choose the narrow gate. “Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed” (Luke 13:24).
Choosing the narrow path of faith commitment will make us a people set apart. We will be in the world, but not of it. Some will scorn our narrowness and the simplicity of the virtuous path.
I am reminded of “Valley Folk,” a sonnet by Fred Cogswell.
O narrow is the house where we are born,
And narrow are the fields in which we labour,
Fenced in by rails and woods that low hills neighbour
Lest they should spill their crops of hay and corn.
O narrow are the hates with which we thorn
Each other's flesh by gossip of the Grundies (underwear) –
( like airing dirty linen in public)
And narrow are our roads to church on Sundays,
And narrow too the vows of love we've sworn.
The poem describes the simple, hard-working, and God-fearing people that we recognize as our own friends and neighbours or ourselves following the narrow path Jesus challenges us to follow.
The narrowness of living the religious law, following the absolutes of such a faith filled existence, puts us on a path unyieldingly straight and narrow. Jesus tells us the narrow gate leads to a tough road that takes us through hardship and challenging decisions. Crucifying the flesh and living by faith demands patience and a life-style separate from the world.
The way of all flesh temps us to take the wide and smooth highway, to avoid the narrow and bumpy road. Not many are ready to give up the easy path and pay the price following Christ demands.
In a more contemporary song “God’s Country” Blake Shelton describes that narrow life dedicated Christians follow.
Right outside of this one church town
There's a gold dirt road to a whole lot of nothin'
Got a deed to the land, but it ain't my ground
This is God's country
We pray for rain, and thank Him when it's fallen
'Cause it brings the grain and a little bit of money
We put it back in the plate
I guess that's why they call it "God's country"
…
We turn the dirt and work until the week's done
We take a break and break bread on Sunday
Then do it all again
'Cause we're proud to be from God's country.
The anticipated reward we are assured will come: When it's my time, lay me six feet deep / In God's country.
Choosing the narrow door puts us on a path that is simple and reassuringly peaceful. Listening to the Divine Shepherd who calls us in a gentle way, and leads us, enables us to live in the peace God gives us.
We must take our eternal salvation seriously. The proud and presumptuous person relies on himself and does not admit to sin and weakness. Turning from our sins and asking God’s forgiveness gives us peace. Then life is simple. Without pride and selfishness, it is easier to fulfill God’s will in living a life of love and service to others.
(580 words)
