Thoughts for the Day

Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, ‘Lord, will only a few be saved?’ He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, “Lord, open to us”, then in reply he will say to you, “I do not know where you come from.” Then you will begin to say, “We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.” But he will say, “I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!” There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out. Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Is Jesus getting at those of us who may be overweight in this passage from Luke's Gospel? Of course not, although in a number of old churches where I have served there have been some very narrow doors not to say scary narrow, circular, and dark staircases with equally tiny roof hatches to the top of their various towers. Some I braved and clambered around, as in East Bergholt when I wandered over its massive roof space, and some I only partially made it to the top as in Manorbier when I climbed through the narrow, low door to the floor which holds the clock mechanism in the tower, but gave up on the vertical ladder to the old bell tower at the top. These narrow doors were likely put in as defensive measures to stop armed enemy getting inside old churches.

Matthew's Gospel has a "narrow gate" but Luke calls is a "narrow door". It's the same principle. The door that leads to hell we might say, is wide and open, inviting the curious to look inside. The door to heaven is a narrow, unobtrusive door which is shut and requires a person to knock for entrance. As Jesus travels through the villages he is on his way to Jerusalem and to his death, there is no time for being gentle any more. People are worried about their future. Will they be included in God’s eternal kingdom. Jesus responds by emphasizing the need to “strive” to enter through the narrow door. This narrow door represents the difficult path of following Christ, characterized by denying ourselves the fleeting things of this world, and showing our love, and obedience to God’s commandments.

Above all being a follower of Jesus means actively pursuing a relationship with Him through prayer, reading scripture, and living out his teachings in our daily lives. The idea of the narrow door means we intend to go through it even if it's difficult and the way is hard. Nor are we intending to give up at the first difficulty, just because the world thinks we are crazy. We need to accept that we have chosen a difficult path to tread, but with God's help we can and will continue.

Lord Jesus Christ,
we seek to follow You
and we know the path won't be easy.
Your way often runs counter to the world's ways.
which can seem attractive.
Help us to discern which choices are eternal
and which are fleeting;
which respond to Your command to love God;
and which show true love for others.
Amen.