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| “Narrow and Wide Gates” by Johann Christoph Weigel, 1695. |
Commentary:
Reading 1: 2 Kings 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36
Commentary on 2 Kgs 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36
Following the annals of the kings of Israel, we come to King Hezekiah’s reign. Earlier in the account of his reign (715-687 BC), it is explained that he implemented great reforms (supported by 2 Chronicles 29-31), throwing out many pagan influences which gained popularity during the reign of his predecessor, King Ahaz (735-715). The spiritual strength gained from the return to faith allowed Hezekiah to turn to the Lord for aid in facing the vastly superior Assyrians, who held sway over the entire region. This was accomplished with God’s aid, striking down a large number of the Assyrian army by what appears to be a plague.
Reference to the thwarting of the invasion by Sennacherib is dated to 701 BC. While the Assyrians did lay siege to Jerusalem, they did not capture it. This debacle led to the assassination of Sennacherib by one of his sons.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 48:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 10-11
R. (9d) God upholds his city for ever.
Commentary on Ps 48:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 10-11
Psalm 48 is a song of praise to God, exhorting the community to praise the Lord for his gift of salvation. The psalm sings of the glory of the Heavenly Kingdom, the New Jerusalem, and the Lord’s mercy and justice.
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Gospel: Matthew 7:6, 12-14
Commentary on Mt 7:6, 12-14
This selection contains three popular sayings of the Lord, contained within the body of the Sermon on the Mount. The “pearls before swine” saying has been somewhat problematic for scholars. It probably refers to proclaiming the Gospel to those who reject it most strenuously, the scribes and Pharisees. This is followed by a shortened passage expounding the “Golden Rule.” The passage concludes with the analogy of the “narrow gate.” The narrow gate refers here to following the precepts of the Lord, and keeping the discipline of the faith. These precepts form a boundary for actions: “How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.”
CCC: Mt 7:12-13 2821; Mt 7:12 1789, 1970; Mt 7:13-14 1036, 1970, 2609; Mt 7:13 1696
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Reflection:
“How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.” Whenever this passage is proclaimed we think of road construction at rush hour. In most major cities it seems that those in authority pick the most heavily traveled stretches of highway to repair just as traffic is at its heaviest. This always causes huge backups and tempers flare.
When people rush to get to the same destination there are always those who think there might be an easier way, a quicker way, one not requiring the patience needed to follow the constricted route. These individuals violate laws and place themselves (and others) in danger, because of their failure to follow the laws.
The same thing is true of our journey toward the Heavenly Kingdom. The path is constricted by the commandments set down for us to follow. Those who find them too difficult, just as those confronted with a traffic backup, will try to find an easier way, a more comfortable route. Those who choose this path are the ones Jesus laments in the passage from St. Matthew’s Gospel.
There was an article recently published by an apologist that addressed this very point. When confronted by a young man who was a professed atheist, he began to explore the reasons this once-Catholic individual had turned so adamantly away from the Church. After hearing the young man go through all of the usual popular objections about the failings of the Church and the people of faith, the apologist asked just one question: “You’re sleeping with your girlfriend aren’t you?”
So often those we meet who reject the narrow path do not reject it because they do not believe it is the right path, but rather because it is either too difficult, or not as much “fun” as the alternative. The person who fails at some endeavor in life does not embrace that failure because it is the right thing to do, but rather because succeeding generally requires more work, discipline, and effort.
For those who struggle along the narrow way, we pray that they continue to have the strength to persevere, ignoring the short-term struggle and seeing the eternal benefit. We pray also for those who have found the narrow way too difficult, and have turned back. We pray and encourage them that they might know that it is never too late to make the attempt once more. For all of us, we pray that, in spite of the times we fail, falling off that narrow way, that we have the strength of faith to dust ourselves off and climb back on. Life is worth the effort.
Pax
Reflection:
“How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.” Whenever this passage is proclaimed we think of road construction at rush hour. In most major cities it seems that those in authority pick the most heavily traveled stretches of highway to repair just as traffic is at its heaviest. This always causes huge backups and tempers flare.
When people rush to get to the same destination there are always those who think there might be an easier way, a quicker way, one not requiring the patience needed to follow the constricted route. These individuals violate laws and place themselves (and others) in danger, because of their failure to follow the laws.
The same thing is true of our journey toward the Heavenly Kingdom. The path is constricted by the commandments set down for us to follow. Those who find them too difficult, just as those confronted with a traffic backup, will try to find an easier way, a more comfortable route. Those who choose this path are the ones Jesus laments in the passage from St. Matthew’s Gospel.
There was an article recently published by an apologist that addressed this very point. When confronted by a young man who was a professed atheist, he began to explore the reasons this once-Catholic individual had turned so adamantly away from the Church. After hearing the young man go through all of the usual popular objections about the failings of the Church and the people of faith, the apologist asked just one question: “You’re sleeping with your girlfriend aren’t you?”
So often those we meet who reject the narrow path do not reject it because they do not believe it is the right path, but rather because it is either too difficult, or not as much “fun” as the alternative. The person who fails at some endeavor in life does not embrace that failure because it is the right thing to do, but rather because succeeding generally requires more work, discipline, and effort.
For those who struggle along the narrow way, we pray that they continue to have the strength to persevere, ignoring the short-term struggle and seeing the eternal benefit. We pray also for those who have found the narrow way too difficult, and have turned back. We pray and encourage them that they might know that it is never too late to make the attempt once more. For all of us, we pray that, in spite of the times we fail, falling off that narrow way, that we have the strength of faith to dust ourselves off and climb back on. Life is worth the effort.
Pax
[1] The picture used is “Narrow and Wide Gates” by Johann Christoph Weigel, 1695.
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