25 June 2013 - gated community

25 June 2013 - gated community

How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few.”

Why is the gate to life narrow?  God wants everyone to be saved and come to knowledge of the truth (cf 1 Tim 2:4).  Why isn't it rather that the gate is wide?  Why do we experience the road to the gate to life as constricted?  Why is there a gate to destruction at all?

Jesus himself is the gate (cf John 10:7).  It can be no wider nor more narrow than he.  Light has nothing to do with darkness (cf. 2 Cor 6:14).  Even Jesus can't turn falsehood and sin into a path to life.  Life and sin are simply antithetical to one another.  But Jesus wants as many people to enter through this narrow gate as possible.  And while it says that those who find it are few perhaps those aren't the only one who enter.  It says that "many" enter the gates of destruction, but not 'the rest.' Perhaps others are actually told about the gate and shown it rather than actively finding it.  Perhaps they are called and led.

If so than we must be even more concerned about the many who are on the road to destruction.  We who have found the gate to life must do all we can to lead others to it as well. But there is nuance here.

“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.

As we talk about Jesus to others we must do so in a way that makes him accessible, yes, but also in a way that clearly regards his all surpassing value.  There is a certain hiddenness and propriety to the depths of the mystery of faith that needs to be preserved.  This is why the early church had catechesis leading up to baptism and then mystagogue.  To do otherwise would be like a wife sharing all of her husbands deepest secrets with strangers.  She is married to a great man, to be sure.  But to introduce others to him she ought to use a gradual revelation that shows her respect for him.

The narrow path sounds obvious when Jesus summarizes it.

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the Law and the Prophets.

But this is an aspect of what it means to not treat our faith lightly.  These words get brandished about in every kindergarten class.  We believe that we have heard them.  Yet we often miss the depth and challenge that these words convey.  It does not lessen the law and the prophets that they can be summarized in this way.  It instead reveals how multifaceted true selfless concern for others is.  It suggests that it something more than merely sharing our toys.  It is, after all, the narrow path to life.

He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Abram embodies this when he treats Lot as he wishes to be treated.

If you prefer the left, I will go to the right;
if you prefer the right, I will go to the left.”

Even though he ends up with the less desirable grazing lands the words of the psalmist apply to him.

He who does these things
shall never be disturbed. 

And indeed we see that the LORD immediately promises to bless Abram after he treats Lot as he does.  The LORD can trust those who put him first with his blessings.

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.”