If we think back to the readings from last week, you might remember that Jesus told us how He had come to set the earth on fire. But it’s not just any fire, it’s a fire that purifies, a fire that divides, a fire that changes us. But once that fire is burning within our hearts, we can’t just sit still. Because fire has movement; it spreads. And today, Jesus shows us where that fire will lead: through the narrow gate.

In the Gospel, He says, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” But what does it mean to strive? Taking a deeper look at that one word is actually kind of important here. In the original Greek, the word here is agonízomai…to agonize. It means to undergo great mental anguish, to struggle wholeheartedly, to give our entire effort, to persevere through the battle. In other words, the narrow gate isn’t just something we casually wander through. It’s not an automatic pass. It requires determination and discipline.

And this is where we sometimes get uncomfortable, because, let’s be honest, we want salvation to be easy. We want to think, “I go to Mass when I can, I’m a decent person, so I’m alright, I’m fine.” But Jesus warns us that just being active in our faith community, just going through the motions isn’t enough. What Jesus desires most for us is to be in a personal relationship with Him – to not just know about Him, but to actually know Him. The people in the parable say, “We ate and drank with you, you taught in our streets,” but the master replies, “I do not know you.”

That’s kind of a sobering thought, isn’t it? Sitting near the fire doesn’t mean it has taken hold of us. Walking near the gate doesn’t mean we’ve entered it.

Some of you know that I’m kind of a gym rat…I’m at the gym most evenings and I do a lot of strength training. So, let’s think of this like a gym membership. You can pay the monthly fee, you can go out and buy the right clothes and accessories, you can even hang around the gym…but if you never actually pick up a weight, you’re not getting stronger. In the same way, faith isn’t about proximity; it’s about participation. It’s about cooperating with the Lord.

That’s why the Letter to the Hebrews speaks of God’s discipline. Discipline is training. It’s God’s way of shaping us to handle the struggles of the narrow way. And yes, discipline can be painful at the times. It’s uncomfortable. As my trainer tells me: no pain, no gain. But this letter to the Hebrews reminds us that when we strive to increase our discipline, it will yield “the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Just like a good coach pushes us to keep going because they see our potential, God stretches us so we can grow in holiness. That’s the only desire of His heart – that we become as holy as He wants us to be.

This is the universal call that every human person has received. As the Prophet Isaiah tells us; this invitation through the narrow gate is for all nations. It’s for all people. Everyone is called. God desires every single human person to be saved. But we still have to answer that call. We still have to respond. We still have to choose to walk the path.

What does that look like for us? Now, it will look a bit different for each of us because every one of us has a unique relationship with Jesus. But in general, the narrow way often shows up in the small, daily choices that nobody else sees:

• Forgiving someone when our pride wants to hold onto the grudge.
• Praying when it would be easier to doom scroll on social media.
• Choosing honesty when a lie would save us some kind of trouble.
• Giving time to someone in need, even when our schedule feels packed.

These are the types of narrow gate decisions that we are called to make each and every day. They’re not flashy. They don’t make headlines. But they train our hearts for heaven.

Last week’s fire was about courage: the willingness to let Christ ignite something new within us. This week’s narrow gate is about commitment and discipline: the daily, sometimes difficult choices that keep us moving forward toward the Kingdom of Heaven. Both are absolutely necessary and go hand-in-hand. A fire without a path just burns out; a path without fire is just going through the motions.

Let’s show how that fire is changing us. Every day this upcoming week, choose one narrow gate act of faith. It could be something as simple as praying for someone in need, making time for Adoration, or helping someone in secret. It could be asking the Lord to help us open the door to forgive someone we love. Whatever it might be, choose it. Live it. Let it shape us. Because next week, Jesus will show us the key to walking that path well…it’s not pride, not self-sufficiency, but it’s humility. A humble heart is what keeps us moving, one step at a time, through the narrow way home.

Image: The Narrow Gate. Image generated using Jetpack AI Assistant.