The Narrow Way

“The Narrow Gate. * “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.”

This is the statement that Jesus made to His followers regarding the path to everlasting life. I can't help but think how our society keeps trying to construct its own path to eternal life, widening the ideals that Jesus set forth by trying to reinterpret Christ's words.

Now I understand that there has to be some interpretation of scripture based on the time frame in which the events took place. I agree that the parables were based on the understanding of the time and need to be interpreted as to how the message speaks to us today. But in this passage, these are direct words. Jesus tells us that the way is not easy. Jesus tells us that it is a tight line to toe to get to heaven. So why is it that mankind keeps trying to reinvent how narrow the path really is?

Society will have us believe that we can change the requirements based on current times, current trends, new information, better knowledge. In some aspects this may be so. But the root of our entry to heaven is how we live our lives, and do we follow Jesus' way.

Yes, Jesus called us to love one another and accept the downtrodden and outcasts. But there is an aspect here that many fail to acknowledge. When tax collectors, prostitutes, thieves and lepers were called to follow, they were also asked to change their lives. To tax collectors, Jesus asked them to extort no more money, only collect what had to be collected. To thieves and prostitutes, He asked of them to sin no more, no more theft or adultery.  To the lepers and the blind, He healed them thus changing them from their former lives. He did not adapt the way. He did make following the path to eternal life easier for them because they were different, or in a different situation. He simply prepared them to follow His way.

This is why it so difficult for us to follow the narrow path. We are humans and prone to stumbling and society keeps throwing more things in our path. And all of us, you, me, ordained, non-ordained, struggle with this journey every day of our lives. The best we can do is keep trying to stay on the path and helping each other to stay on the path. How? By sharing the love of God first, that all are welcome. Then, by sharing the calling of God, that our lives are changed.