Today’s Gospel from Matthew contains four short verses from the Sermon on the
Mount. There is a contrast between the narrow gate and the wide road. Perhaps the wide road means that there are no true laws and commandments, that we can follow our personal likes and dislikes, our whims and desires. The wide road could include our self-centeredness and deception, violence and
revenge. The wide road is not the way of life that Jesus calls us to.
In contrast, the narrow gate is the set of values that Jesus teaches us. Justice and mercy are to be included in that narrow gate. The narrow gate is not close-mindedness and narrow-mindedness. As the psalmist asserts, those who do justice will live in the presence of the
Lord. I thought about the Fortnight for Freedom that we are celebrating now in our
Church. Going through the narrow gate
does not mean that we impose our views on others. It does not mean that we do
not let other practice their own faith, to have the freedom to do so. Pope Francis proclaims: “We must promote religious liberty for all people.
Every man and woman must be free to profess his or her faith, whatever it may
be. Why? Because that man and that woman are children of God.” May we enter the narrow gate, the Way of Jesus. And may we
always walk in justice.
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