The narrow gate is Jesus himself. He says, "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture" (cf. Joh. 10:9).
He desires that all be saved and come to knowledge of the truth (cf. 1 Tim. 2:4). The psalmist is confident of this.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
If his love is so broad, why the apparent limit? If he is a gate, why is he narrow?
many, I tell you, will attempt to enter
but will not be strong enough.
Many people are trying to force the door open with their own strength. We need to rely on the one, Jesus, who is in us. He is greater than the one who is in the world (cf. 1 Joh. 4:4). The enemy once had this gate sealed shut. But Jesus is "someone stronger" who "attacks and overpowers him" (cf. Luk. 11:21). It is sealed no longer!
It is not about our own strength. We don't need strength when we choose the correct door. Jesus is the gate which will open to us. We often insist on spending on strength in futile attempts to force open any other door but him.
He gives us the strength, for instance, to give due respect to those in authority.
be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling,
in sincerity of heart, as to Christ,
not only when being watched, as currying favor,
If we enter the narrow gate of Jesus we will serve "as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, willingly serving the Lord and not men, knowing that each will be requited from the Lord for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free." Can we hear hints of the banquet of the kingdom in this statement? Do we begin to taste it even in our service? It is possible. But we would prefer a door where such humility and service is not even necessary. We smash into the door of trying to do it on our own. We smash into the door of trying to do it for our pride and self-image. We keep smashing into these doors trying to make them work but they never do.
"Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations." But this door does not remain open forever. Once it is shut, it is too late.
After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
‘Lord, open the door for us.’
The LORD will not force us to choose himself. But a decision is required of us because eventually the heavenly feast must begin. Will we enter this narrow gate? Will we recline at table in the Kingdom of God with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with the prophets, with people from north and south, east and west? Or will we let our stubbornness keep us on the outside looking in? It doesn't seems that while the gate is narrow there are actually quite a few people inside. Let us be among them.
This invitation is for the end of time, to be sure. If there were no firm deadline then there would be a third option, choosing neither to love nor not to love, choosing neither to enter the gate, nor to remain outside. But this is not an option. It doesn't make sense and so it is not a choice we have.
This invitation is one we receive each day. Will we enter into our lives through this gate? Will we enter into service of parents, children, masters, and slaves through this gate? When we do, we find that we begin to partake in the banquet of the Kingdom of God even now. Will we enter into Mass and the Sacraments through this gate? It is the only way to enter. Let us strive to enter by this gate. When we do, the glory of the Kingdom fills us. We can't stop talking about the might of the one who opens his Kingdom to us.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
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