Narrow gate of love

Matthew 7: 12 - 14

Enter by the narrow gate......

As I read and reflected over this - one of Jesus' 'hard' sayings, I was reminded of how 'narrowness' is sometimes perceived by fundamentalist Christians. They would have us believe that there is a narrow interpretation of God's Word and that anything 'out' of that is heresy. I was reminded of this background of mine last night when I attended a spirituality seminar. The topic was not on fundamentalism but on faith stages - we were reminded how the passage through the "wall" (the stage where deep surrender and transformation occurs) can be difficult for those whose theology is rather narrow. I recognized my personal 'reaction', coming from or rather always aware of wanting to 'fit' into the conventional and orthodox way (in order to be accepted). Thus the struggle to let go and allow God to 'show' me his way, allow him to be God, rather than the views proposed by certain theologians, however reputable. So the gate is less narrow now for me - in the theological sense, and therefore less 'secure', yet much more freeing.

But the point of Jesus was certainly not theological narrowness. After all, the Pharisees had developed a scheme of strict orthodoxy and orthopraxy...in their 613 additional 'laws'.....and Jesus said they were laying a heavy burden on people's lives.

I believe Jesus' 'narrow' and 'hard' way refers to his teaching on 'love'. Never had the teachers of the law been challenged by such teaching as "love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself". They had stayed away form the heart of the matter, preferring their form of narrowness - that chained others while leading to personal security. People over the centuries have tried to put God in a box.....and thankfully, God persists in inviting all of us to let him out.

The way is hard because we have to learn to "love" as God loves. The gate is narrow...because our choices are fewer when we have to lovingly consider others......

perhaps a good examen question is "How well have I loved today?" And always the request "help me to love", however hard it is.