A Reflection on Luke 13:22-30
Jesus doesn't waste words when He talks about the narrow gate. He tells
us plainly that few will find it. Not few will look for it, few will actually
find it and walk through it. Why? Because the narrow gate requires something
most people absolutely refuse: to give complete surrender to God. We're talking
about putting Him first in everything, not just on Sundays or when life gets
hard, but every single moment of every single day. The narrow gate is a life of
humility where God comes first, others come second, and you come last. That
spells JOY: Jesus, Others, Yourself. But let's be honest, most people want the
exact opposite of that. They want their stuff, their status, their comfort,
their plans, their pride. They want to be in control. And that's why they'll
never find the narrow gate.
Here's what the world has convinced people they need: success that
everyone can see, money in the bank, a house that impresses the neighbors, a
career that defines them, and enough possessions to prove they've made it. The
world whispers constantly, "You deserve this. You earned this. You should
have more. Don't let anyone tell you what to do with your life." And
people eat it up because it feels good to be important, to be recognized, to be
comfortable. But that's the wide gate, and it's packed with people who've made
themselves the center of their own universe. Satan loves it because he's
convinced them that self-focus is actually self-care, that pride is confidence,
that greed is ambition. They're not evil people, they're just completely
deceived. They think they're living the good life while they're actually
walking away from the only life that matters. And the saddest part? They won't
realize it until it's too late.
Walking through the narrow gate looks radically different. You wake up
and your first thought is "What does God want from me today?" not
"What do I want today?" You go to Mass not because you have to, but
because you genuinely want to worship the God who made you. You give generously
even when it hurts your budget because you know everything you have came from
Him anyway. You serve others when you're exhausted because that's what Jesus
did. You bite your tongue instead of lashing out because you're trying to be
like Christ. You protect life, speak truth, stay pure, control your anger, kill
your jealousy, and die to yourself daily. Daily. That's not an exaggeration.
Every single day you're choosing God's will over your own desires. Every day
you're saying, "Not my way, Lord, but Yours." That kind of humility
goes against everything the world teaches. Society says assert yourself, stand
up for your rights, don't let anyone push you around, get what's yours. But
Jesus says deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Him. Those are two
completely opposite directions.
So why do so few people choose this path? Because sacrifice is hard and
humility feels like weakness in a world that celebrates self. Living for God
alone means you might not get rich. You might not be famous. You might not have
the biggest house or the fanciest car. You might be misunderstood, mocked, or
left out because you won't compromise on truth. You'll have to forgive when you'd
rather hold grudges. You'll have to be generous when you'd rather build your
savings. You'll have to stay faithful to your commitments when others are
bailing for easier options. The narrow gate costs you everything you think you
want so you can gain everything you actually need. But most people can't see
that trade-off as worth it. They're too attached to their comfort, their plans,
their image. They want God to fit into their life, but they don't want their
life to revolve around God. And Jesus is crystal clear, that won't work. You
can't serve two masters. Either God is Lord of everything or He's Lord of
nothing.
This is the decision we're making right now, today, at this moment. Which
gate are we actually walking through? Not which one do we say we're choosing,
but which one are we really living? Because you can sit in church every Sunday
and still be on the wide path if your heart is focused on yourself the other six
days. The narrow gate is total commitment. It's humility that says, "I'm
nothing without God." It's sacrifice that proves "I love God more
than my comfort." It's reverence that declares "God is God and I am
not." One day, and that day is coming whether we're ready or not, we'll stand before Jesus and give an account
of our lives. Did we live for ourselves or for Him? Did we accumulate possessions
and money and share it with no one or store up treasure in heaven? Did we chase
the world's applause or seek God's approval? That's what matters. Not our
résumé, not our bank account, not how many people liked our posts. The narrow
gate strips away all the junk we think defines us and leaves only what's
eternal: our love for God and our service to others. That's the life He created
us for. That's where real joy lives. So, we need to be honest with ourselves
right now about which path we're on, and if we're on the wrong one, we need to
turn around while there's still time. The narrow gate is open. Jesus is
calling. But we have to be willing to let go of everything we're clinging to
and walk through it with empty hands and humble hearts.
©2025 James Dacey, Jr., OFS
