“Strive to enter the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough” –Luke 13:24
Today Jesus is telling us to be different, to not follow what everyone else is doing and go with the flow of society, but rather to stand strong in our faith and strive to be holy servants of God. How do we do this? The first reading is a good way to start. Ephesians states “Honor your Father and Mother,” and “As slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, willingly serve the Lord and not men.” These are two great examples of ways to “strive to enter the narrow gate.” Be that one who wakes up a few minutes early to begin your day with the Lord, amidst a crowd be courageous, and pray before your meal; take some time during the day to be in silence with the Lord, smile at whomever you meet along your path, pray for someone going through a hard time, spend time talking with a friend, call a family member and remind them how much you love them, thank God for the blessings in your life, do whatever it is God is calling YOU to do that day to serve God, strive to be holy.
Jesus gives us a warning in the Gospel that we must do this each and every day, for “some who are last who will be first and some who are first will be last.” We cannot be God’s servants on Sunday only and expect to enter through the narrow gate of salvation. We cannot have been God’s servants yesterday and choose not to from then on thinking that one day is good enough. To be a servant of the Lord is a way of life and a purposeful mindset.
Lord, pray today that we may have the strength to be your servant each day of our lives. We can do nothing without you, Lord, give us courage and perseverance to allow you to work through our lives and to do Your will.
“If God can work through me, he can work through anyone.” –St. Francis of Assisi
