THE NARROW GATE

READINGS: TWENTY FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Jesus, in the gospel reading for this 21st Sunday in ordinary times, year C, (Luke 13:22-30) speaks in an as-a-matter-of-fact fashion about heaven, as a way of encouraging and inviting us to do what we have to do to get in. 

Right off the bat, He declares it as a challenge: “Not everyone who tries will get in” (Luke 13:24). Imagine for a moment training for a marathon, a championship game, or a career dream. One thing is certain—there is no winning or getting there by chilling on the couch. It is the same here. Christ is simply saying that getting into heaven is not a passive merry-go-round affair. It is not accidental. It’s intentional and takes effort. Athletes train, students grind, gamers level up, and creators hustle to post content. Why? Because what they want matters. If we can do all that for temporary gains, how much more should we do for eternal life? My friends, not everyone crosses the finish line first. It is only those who have trained hard for it.

Christ goes on to describe the road that leads to heaven as a narrow driveway. In other words, not every lifestyle leads to heaven. The road is narrow and calls for letting go of backpacks like pride, selfishness, drama, toxic habits, grudges, sin, envy, lust, unforgiving spirit, and the like, so that we can fit through the door. This is what we do in life—Students sacrifice sleep to graduate, an athlete gives up comfort to win a medal, a bride-to-be and bridesmaids watch their diet to fit the gown, etc. If we do all that for things that fade, how much more for eternal life? Heaven, my friends, is the ultimate event. We need to drop the bags so that we can fit through the gate. 

He then goes on to drop the shocker: knowing about God isn’t the same as knowing God. Simply hearing God’s Word, knowing Bible verses, being familiar with or vibing at church, isn’t enough. Jesus says some people will knock, saying, “But we ate with you, we listened to you!” and He replies: “I don’t know you.” My friends, what matters is relationship—choosing God daily, in prayer, in forgiveness, in love, in compassion, in mercy, and in adoration. Heaven is not earned by association but by transformation. There is a difference between following someone on Instagram and having a real relationship. Do we “follow” Jesus or do we know Him? 

Lastly, Christ hits on a topic we are all weary to talk about—that Hell is real. Hell is the tragedy of rejecting God, of treating His love and care as if it does not matter. This is not a message of fear but an invitation of love. A friend of mine told me that he holds on to two basic truths: “That there is God and He cares about me a lot”. My friends, God longs for us to walk through that narrow gate, and the good news is that the narrow door is wide open for those who care to enter. 

So, let’s strive daily, like athletes, for a crown that lasts forever. Let’s cut out the weights that keep us stuck. Let’s choose holy moments: the small acts of kindness, the prayers whispered in faith, the courage to forgive, the compassion to give, and the grace to care. Heaven is not about restrictions; it’s about freedom, love, and peace that never end. Let us not just ‘follow’ Jesus like on social media but walk with Him in a relationship. That’s how we fit through the narrow gate.”