In our fallen nature our tendency is not towards heaven. Left to our own devices we human beings have an incredible propensity for evil and iniquity. Unaided by divine help we find ourselves racing down the path of perdition.
And so Our Lord warns, “strive to enter by the narrow door” (Lk 13:24). The path to heaven is not one we come by naturally, but one that takes diligence, effort, and utter reliance on God, who draws us to himself by his free gift.
“For many will seek to enter and will not be able” (Lk 13:24). With these words Christ reminds us that our aim must be fixed and resolute. If we are not actively pursuing our heavenly homeland we will miss the mark. A passive pursuit is no pursuit at all. We must strive to live out the teachings of Christ at every moment of our lives, lest we hear those horrible words: “Truly I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity” (Lk 13:27).
When our time on earth comes to and end it should be abundantly clear “where we come from.” We come from God and to him we shall return if we give witness to his goodness in this life, and the way he has transformed our own lives to be in conformity with him. We are made for heaven and relationship with God, that is the natural end we were created for before original sin bared the gates of heaven. Through Christ’s death and resurrection he has gained for us admission to heaven, but only if we unite ourselves to his death and follow his narrow path, so that we may come to a resurrection like his. Therefore, let us remain diligent, with our eyes ever fixed on Christ, so that he may lead us through the narrow door to our heavenly homeland.
Kevin Ponte – St. Joseph Seminary, Edmonton, Alberta
Fot. Daniel von appen/Unsplash.com