The Struggle Through The Narrow Door

Jesus begins teaching about the path to heaven as not being guaranteed.

He speaks to two categories of thought processes.

The first category of thinking are worried if they’re not going to enter the kingdom because they worry if they will be few.

The second category of thinking Jesus responds to people who are SURPRISED they are not rewarded heaven because of their ASSOCIATION with Jesus.

Jesus says, “They’ll be saying we ate and drank in your presence.”

Notice, they don’t even say with you not that that would’ve been any better but they’re just saying WE WERE AROUND YOU.

They also are shocked and say “YOU TAUGHT IN OUR STREETS”

You came to OUR territory and taught.

Notice what they didn’t say. They didn’t say you taught and we embodied what you taught us. They didn’t say we’re shocked because we learned what you taught and lived it out to the best of our ability.

NO. They just said, you were on OUR streets.

You don’t own those streets. Those are just streets you live in! You are speaking to the God of the universe. THAT IS HIS LAND and TERRITORY.

So Jesus here is saying just because you’re AROUND Jesus, just because you HEAR his teaching, just because you have a sense that he is present in a church you call YOUR CHURCH, it doesn’t mean you’re on the way to heaven.

When Jesus says to STRIVE, the english word for striving is the word where the english word AGONY comes from. So heaven is product of an agonizing struggle.

So if you’re struggling and aiming for God, you’re in the right place.

Jesus says the path to heaven is a narrow door. If a door is narrow we have to let go of certain things, people, and ways of life.

And saint paul gives encouragement to those on the path saying that we should remember 3 things. I like to give lists.

Be steadfast.

To enter a narrow door, there isn’t much room to turn around.

We can pray ten rosaries and spend hours in prayer for a week. But stop when life changes. Christ invites us to be steadfast, because consistency is more important than intensity.

Be immovable.

That no matter what is done to you, what is said about you, what ups and downs you endure, you can be someone who is not moved because you see who you are and the goal of heaven you’re aiming for.

Abounding in the Work of the Lord

Paul knows that in this dedicating your life to God, there isn’t that many rewards along the way.

No one will see your struggle.

There’s many days where your good things done will end up thankless.

There’s many days where you wonder if any of it really matters.

But if you love something and you love someone, even God, you don’t decide when what you’ve given is enough. Instead, you discover new ways and boundaries your love can be given.

As we’re called to enter this narrow door of heaven, may we remember we don’t arrive by association or simply listening, but by aiming for heaven being steadfast, immovable, and abounding in the work of the Lord.