The Narrow Path (original post June 26)

I heard a sermon this morning (6-26-07) that struck me very deeply. It was on Matt 7:13-14
“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

The path to heaven is narrow, and few find it. The road to hell is wide, easy to find, and many choose it. Father (meaning the priest) pointed out that everyone knows the wide road, the path of least resistance. No matter what culture, religion, or education a person has, the wide road is easily accessible and readily available at all times. The choice is so very easy that people don’t even have to think about it or deliberate their choices. I know the wide road, the road of materialism, selfishness, license, envy, discontent, ingratitude, pride, etc. I engage in them so often without even realizing it. Our Lord says in today’s gospel (6-25-07) that it is the road to hell, and is much traveled.

The Narrow Path, on the other hand, is difficult to find. Father said this means one must make a conscious effort to search for it, must persevere and stick it out for the long haul because this path takes a while to find. Furthermore, when one finds it and begins to travel the road of righteousness, he discovers many times along the way how he is still desiring to travel the wide road, and perhaps he is actually following it though he thought he was on the narrow road. Few find it, and even fewer decide to follow it. Few? Ack! I’m in trouble!

Father’s homily today led me to thinking, about whether I am on actually on the wide path. Do I just find comfort and satisfaction thinking I’m on the narrow when I’m only tricking myself? The choices I make everyday, to disagree with someone on account of my pride, even if only inwardly, are ultimately what leads to one road or another. The choice to talk or think ill of someone; the choice to continue to ruminate over things that have passed; the choice to read an “inspirational story” instead of praying or reading the Scriptures; the choice to take a second helping when I don’t need it and could very well offer it up for poor sinners; forgetting to pray for our priests, an end to abortion, those on death row, the poor, the pope, the Holy Souls in Purgatory; I choose to make some disrespectful gesture, such as rolling my eyes; inwardly seething about a rude customer; thinking disrespect or judging those who deserve my respect by virtue of their stature in my life; omitting my prayers in order to sleep, listen to music, etc.; gossiping, or even if not engaging in gossip myself, listening to it. The little things of every day are ultimately the choice of the narrow or wide.

Perhaps it is a coincidence, but today is also the feast of St. Josemarie Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei. The society’s main focus is to encourage its members to live the Life in Christ, to live their Catholic Faith, out every day in their every thought, word, and deed. St. Paul said that you must “pray without ceasing,” but I have met very few people who think that those words were to be taken literally, or even could be. After careful deliberation and many experiences to the converse, I submit that we are to pray always and it is possible. When I am driving to work, I’ve an entire 15 minutes by myself, time to talk to God instead of listening to music. Or, when I’m doing the laundry, I could very well be praying instead of thinking about the latest thing that has come along to irritate my all too touchy sensitivities. Opus Dei, like the Little Way of St. Therese, encourages people to make each act of the day into a prayer, a little act of love for God and His people. Making your bed (if you do that every day ;-)), rinsing dishes, cleaning the toilet, setting the table, waiting at a red light, giving up extra portions and curbing road rage (you know, little words and feelings you let out when other drivers do something stupid or dangerous), and actually offering a compliment or encouragement to family members are all times when a good may be offered to God that will contribute to someone’s salvation. One of the most difficult of sacrifices is to forgo fighting back. Someone gets angry at you, and you choose to remain calm and not get angry, even internally. I have never yet succeeded at this one (sigh).

The Narrow road is the shortest road and in a certain sense the easiest. It is direct, and also ensures that once begun, you will continue to see more and more things which keep you from following Our Lord with your entire being. Once you start down the wide road, it takes a long time to find the narrow again, and it is very difficult to stop sinful behaviors because they become addictive, especially judging, gossip, sexual sins, gluttony, and falsehoods.

Thank God for a universal Church! All of our elder brothers and sisters in the faith, the Saints and the Holy Souls in Purgatory, testify that we can definitely make it to heaven, and they want us. They never tire night or day, guarding us, praying for us, and seeking to guide us in any way possible. God did not stop there in His efforts to get us to heaven! He gave us the Crown of Creation, Our Lady Mary, as our own mother. The most perfect of all things created by Our Lord, she is the model and the fascination of all virtues. Since He cannot refuse her requests, I would highly recommend taking anything and everything to her Immaculate Heart. Further, there are the guardian angels, a holy and pure being assigned to care for and watch over you and only you! Just you, and your angel, together in the battle blessed by the Lord.

Though the Narrow road be hard to find and difficult to travel, Our Lord has, in my opinion, given us many helps along the way. All we’ve got to do is snatch them up. Go ahead, be greedy! These assets are there just so you can find heaven. Don’t think that you are the only one having difficulty on the Narrow, because I certainly am! We’ve got to pray for each other on the way. If you sanctify yourself, and you will sanctify your families, your workplaces, our society and our country.