THE NARROW GATE

Are we willing to give up everything to follow Jesus?

Matthew 7:13

Jesus is leading us through the narrow gate. Jesus is advising us to avoid the easy path that many find convenient. Jesus is highlighting that following him will involve some shedding.

The path of life through Jesus asks us to give up many things. If we are to enter into the kingdom of God we cannot do so while holding on to our earthly habits. We simply cannot fit through the gate bringing so much baggage.

What we need to do is let go of realistically everything not of God. Jesus is the path, the gate, and the destination. Once we have God, what else would we need?

We need to orient our day and way of thinking to prioritize God. Once we are aligned to Jesus, we can truly live. If we prioritize everything else we are following things that perish.

Can we think of ways that we are choosing the wider gate and road of destruction? Let us give up something today that is not of God. Let us begin removing activities out of our day that we can use instead for prayer, charity, or other acts that bring us closer to God.

Tags: Challenge, Difficult, Follow, Matthew, Orient, Prioritize

« Previous Reflection

Next Reflection »

Related Reflections

silhouette of two person walking on desert

Tempted by Evil • Romans 7:21

Do we realize that even though sin holds us down, Jesus is the answer to lift us up?

Changing for God’s Plan • Matthew 1:20

Are we able to change our life plans for God’s plan for us?

Recent Content

[HOMILIES]

The Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Hate feeling lost from the Sunday readings? Searching for a better explanation of the bible than what you heard from your pastor's sermon? Check out the collection of audio, video, and text commentaries from various Christian experts for a better understanding of today's scripture.

[Bible Verse Reflection]

Correct Answer but Incorrect • Mark 8:29

Questioning our understanding of Jesus as Christ/Messiah

[Podcast]

Spiritual Direction

Fr. Mark Thibodeaux, SJ has been a spiritual director for many years and he shares his work on bringing others closer to Jesus Christ. What is spiritual direction? Where can you find a spiritual director? Listen as Fr. Thibodeaux explains what it entails, what it's not and how you can also get spiritual direction.