Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

(Optional Memorial for Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor of the Church)
 
Proper readings for the Memorial of St. Cyril of Alexandria
Biographical information about St. Cyril of Alexandria

“The Narrow Gate” 
by Dcn. Robert Lackney

 
Readings for Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time [1]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
 
Readings and Commentary: [3]
 
Reading 1: Genesis 13:2, 5-18
 
Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.
Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents,
so that the land could not support them if they stayed together;
their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.
There were quarrels between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock
and those of Lot's.
(At this time the Canaanites and the Perizzites
were occupying the land.)
 
So Abram said to Lot:
"Let there be no strife between you and me,
or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are kinsmen.
Is not the whole land at your disposal?
Please separate from me.
If you prefer the left, I will go to the right;
if you prefer the right, I will go to the left."
Lot looked about and saw how well watered
the whole Jordan Plain was as far as Zoar,
like the LORD's own garden, or like Egypt.
(This was before the LORD had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
Lot, therefore, chose for himself the whole Jordan Plain
and set out eastward.
Thus they separated from each other;
Abram stayed in the land of Canaan,
while Lot settled among the cities of the Plain,
pitching his tents near Sodom.
Now the inhabitants of Sodom were very wicked
in the sins they committed against the LORD.
 
After Lot had left, the LORD said to Abram:
"Look about you, and from where you are,
gaze to the north and south, east and west;
all the land that you see I will give to you
and your descendants forever.
I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth;
if anyone could count the dust of the earth,
your descendants too might be counted.
Set forth and walk about in the land, through its length and breadth,
for to you I will give it."
Abram moved his tents and went on to settle
near the terebinth of Mamre, which is at Hebron.
There he built an altar to the LORD.
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Commentary on Gn 13:2, 5-18
 
The focus of this selection is the separation of Abram and Lot. 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.
 
He who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
 
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
By whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
 
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
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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
 
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.
 
"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the Law and the Prophets.
 
"Enter through the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,
and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few."
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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 foundation for this saying is found in Deuteronomy 30:15-20. After the Jews' long sojourn in the desert and having the law imparted to them, Moses sums up the function of God’s law, saying, “See, I have today set before you life and good, death and evil.” Jesus draws a similar comparison. 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

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[1] The picture used is “The Narrow Gate” by Dcn. Robert Lackney.
[2] S.S. Commemoratio
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.