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"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few." (Matthew 7:13-14) These words of Our Lord were given to His disciples many years ago, but they bear a definite importance for us today! What is true is that we are called to follow and to serve God in this life so that we can be happy with Him forever in the life to come, but happiness in the life to come depends on several factors. Firstly, it is a gift from God, no one deserves this, nor is anyone automatically given it. Just because a person is born doesn’t mean that they deserve to get to heaven, we must do our part as well. God offers, we must accept! We can also reject God, but I wouldn't recommend that! God has a place prepared for us, but whether we reach that place depends on our desire to do God’s will, to respond to His grace, and to persevere through this life. Yes, we were made for heaven, but in order to get there we must live good and holy lives, responding to the work of God within us. Ah! But many today find that doing God's will is a great challenge. How frequently people assert: “I don’t need to go to confession, I can just tell God ‘I’m sorry.’” “I don’t need to go to Mass, I just say a little prayer.” “I don’t need to do all the things the Church teaches, I love God, and that’s enough.” Well, that’s not the way God sees it! He has given us the Church to guide our way to Him, if we do not follow Him along the way that He has set for us, along the narrow way, then we will not find life. However, if we trust in God, and follow His ways, even when they seem difficult and if we respond to His grace and believe in His Church, even if we are only a small number, we will find life. Better to among the few who find life, than to be among the many who do not! Amen.
2 comments:
Our Lord is informing us to go straight ahead, and entering the narrow gate, there is no room to go left or right but keep straight. The b part of Proverbs 15:21 says that the one who is sensible goes straight ahead. The a part of the verse says that if a man enjoys folly, something is wrong. Let us pray to stay on the straight and narrow.(Gate)
I truly believe the number one reason people sin is because they put their will ahead of God's. As a very wise confessor once told me "too often, we demand that God cooperate with what we want, rather than cooperate with want God wants". People say they love God, but what does that really mean? Does it mean we feel some sort of emotion towards God, or does it mean we choose to do His will even though we may not feel like it? I really feel sorry for people who think going to Mass once a week is asking too much. I pray there will come a day when going once a week will not be enough for most people and they will realize the precious gift that lies in wait for them every day in the tabernacle.
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