He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.  (Luke 13:24)

Luke 13:22-30

Personal encounters with Jesus inspire us to follow him with eagerness and passion. We are moved to work towards making God’s Kingdom a reality. We can get caught up in the initial energy and joy of our call to follow Jesus. Like Mary, who gave a definitive “yes” when Angel Gabriel asked if she would agree to be the mother of Christ, we too say “yes” with enthusiasm and conviction.

However, life gets in the way. We are busy. There are distractions, some of them good in their own right, but they detract from our purpose to follow God. 

Jesus is urging his disciples to “strive to enter through the narrow door”, and he warns that many will not make it. Our salvation is not about casual interest, but about intentional commitment to God.

I’m wondering what the narrow doors could be for us today. Using the metaphor of the narrow door being the way to follow God, some of the following may help you look at your life. 

Firstly, we can become so absorbed in the busyness of life that we just walk right past the door and don’t even see it. We are so focused on our job, family, or struggles and pain, that we stop noticing what is around us.

We may see the door, but because it looks inconspicuous and small, we do not believe it is the path to God, or what God is calling us to, so we just keep going, looking for our idea of what the door should be.

We may be carrying so much baggage that no matter how hard we try, it blocks our entry through the door. We are unable to let go of worldly possessions and desires, or we hang on to pain and grief, all of which obstruct our freedom to follow God.

The door may feel inaccessible. It could be up a steep flight of stairs. We may feel we just don’t have the strength or the energy to climb to the top.

The “narrow door” may seem like a tight squeeze (and I’m claustrophobic). Perhaps I feel anxious or unworthy to go through the door?

Spend some time with Jesus, perhaps sitting side by side on a bench, and talk about the “narrow door” in your life? Remember to let Jesus respond to you.

Reflections by Ursula van Nierop

Dearest Lord, 
Teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for reward,
except to know that I am doing your will.
Amen.
(Attributed to St Ignatius of Loyola)
 

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