Thoughts for the Day

Jesus said, 'In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it'.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Living in Pembrokeshire we are surrounded by ancient castles. Opposite St James' Church, Manorbier is a wonderful castle that I see day after day, then down the road there is Carew Castle which is more like a fortified manor house now, and 5 miles away is the giant of them all, Pembroke Castle. From the 12th century onwards these castles kept invaders at bay and the local Welsh under control. They bred some amazing men and women, among them Harri Tudur, who was born there in 1457. He was to become Henry VII, the first of the Tudor monarchs.

The castles of these warrior kings had much in common, and their castles were often built on promontories and surrounded by water. Pembroke castle has walls 23 metres high and 6 metrees thick in places,, with battlements, three portcullises and a gatehouse through which all the people entered. However, there was frequently a second entrance or exit - a postern gate - one that was usually well hidden. Few entered this gate and it was only used for private purposes, allowing people to enter inconspicuously. Pembroke Castle has such a one.

Our reading today from Matthew's Gospel talks about us not entering the wide entrance where all the people throng, but to search for the narrow gate. The way to heaven is to find the hidden, narrow gate, not to take the great highway where all the people seek entrance. And how do we find it, well putting it in practical terms, Jesus says we approach each problem and each question by asking ourselves, "How would I like to be treated?" and do the same for others, no matter how hard that might be. That is how we shall discover the way to heaven.

Lord Jesus Christ,
sometimes it's hard to know which way to go,
and we need to search for the right road.
Guide us to follow in your footsteps
and not to take the easy path,
but when in doubt,
to remember your teaching
to do to others as we would wish them to do to us.
Amen.