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| “The Narrow Gate” by Dcn. Robert Lackney (brother and artist) |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Genesis 13:2, 5-18
Commentary on Gn 13:2, 5-18
The blessings of the Lord follow Abram and Lot as they return to the north from the Negeb. With prosperity comes crowding of the herds, so they agree to move apart with Lot moving toward the east (near Sodom) and Abram staying in Canaan. God again tells Abram that the land is for him and his descendants.
CCC: Gn 13:8 500
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5
R. (1b) He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Commentary on Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5
Psalm 15 is a didactic song instructing the faithful to follow God’s precepts and explaining that those who act in accord with the Law will receive God’s support and grace.
This selection records the response of the temple representative when asked what virtues are appropriate in the eyes of God. The response lauds the person who follows the “Law,” specifically the Hebrew laws that warn against slander or false accusations. In the second strophe it honors the person who does no violence against another. And finally, in the last strophe, we are told that the person who does not charge interest on a loan (usury) is also uplifted.
CCC: Ps 15:3-7 579
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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 way. 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, such 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 do so 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 “The Narrow Gate” by Dcn. Robert Lackney (brother and artist).
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