The Narrow Gate of the Cross

Last updated on: March 25, 2016 at 6:26 pm by Father Pablo Migone

The Narrow Gate of the Cross 2016-03-25T18:26:39-05:00 Father Pablo Migone

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Five years ago on Easter Sunday afternoon, I arrived to the fascinating city of Istanbul, Turkey. I visited Istanbul for a few days and traveled south to visit incredible archaeological sites like Perganum and Ephesus, including the house of the Virgin Mary. The following Sunday morning I was back in Istanbul and I went looking for one of the few Catholic churches in the city to attend Mass. I went early since I didn’t have the exact address; the concierge at the hotel had somewhat explained to me where the church was.

I walked back and forth two blocks of a busy street and couldn’t find the church. How could I miss it? This is the cathedral of Istanbul!

I finally noticed people entering through a gateway into a regular-looking building. I peeked in and realized that the opening led down a hallway into what seemed to be a courtyard. I entered through the gateway uneasily, took about 15 steps, and there it was. The arched hallway opened up into a courtyard and I saw the façade of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.

The church had been built to comply with the Ottoman building code back in the 1800s. Facades of churches could not be seen from the street so churches were built farther in from the street with a building blocking the view in between.

The normal, somewhat narrow and non-spectacular doorway led to my destination. I expected a grand facade, yet I found a simple doorway. I thought it’d be easy to find, a typical, obvious church, but finding it was a challenge. Yet once I identified the gate and figured out what I needed to do, I went through the gate and was happy.

“Strive to enter through the narrow gate”

The narrow gate to reach salvation, to be saved, can easily be missed. Many walk past it without recognizing it. Others give up trying to find it, lose hope and despair.
Jesus does not answer the question posed to him: he does not say whether many will be saved or if few will be saved, he just says to his listener in a very direct manner, “strive to enter through the narrow gate.”

What makes the gate so narrow and difficult to enter through?
The second reading gives us some insight.

Saint Paul speaks about the discipline of the Lord and describes how many lose heart from the difficulties and trials of life. We are encouraged to see these trials as a preparation in the same way a father prepares his child for the future through discipline. Rather than doubting and losing heart when things get difficult, we are called to strengthen our drooping hands and weak knees; to make straight paths for our feet so what is lame in us will be healed.

Passing through the narrow gate involves carrying the cross; passing through the narrow gate requires God’s strength and grace; passing through the narrow gates requires the same sacrificial love which led Jesus to the cross.

Not long ago I encountered a man struggling to keep the faith – he was a good man who wanted to do things right. Even though he saw people around him making money in dishonorable and questionable ways, he wanted to stay on the right path. Despite his efforts, his good intentions and good will, no doors seemed to open. No work, no money, no possibilities.

For some time I’ve visited a family with a very sick child who has been hospitalized at least five times since last September. After each hospitalization his condition worsens and doctors currently are not painting an optimistic picture. There is nothing more heartbreaking as seeing a mother holding her dying baby in her arms, in tears.

Situations such as these make the gate extremely narrow and very difficult to pass through. It is the presence of the cross that makes the path narrow. Yet the cross is our path to salvation.

Many despair, lose faith, and rebel against God because of the cross. Yet the cross contains the key to pass through the narrow gate. Using Paul’s words again, when we are faced with the cross, we must strengthen our drooping hands and our weak knees so what is lame within us may be strengthened.

In the same way I went past the gateway into the church without noticing that was the path into the church, so many times we walk past the cross and fail to find in it our salvation; we fail to see in it the narrow gate.

May Our Savior who comes into our midst give us the grace and strength to carry the cross and with it pass through the narrow gate into his kingdom. May he strengthen our drooping hands and weak knees, so all that is lame within us may be strengthened.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

August 24, 2013

Recuerdos de Santa Rosa

Next Post

August 31, 2013 A Nine Year Old's Dream

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Article Catholic Lima Christmas Commentary History Homily Immigration martyrs Meditation Pope Reflection Saint Story Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 January 2010 June 2009 September 2008 August 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I told my daughter-in-law to uncover a man's feet and lie down at the threshing floor. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Bathsheba Ruth Naomi Rebekah