Enter through the narrow gate

Gn 13,2.5-18; Ps 14; Mt 7,6.12-14
25 JUNE

As the history of salvation advances towards full revelation in Christ Jesus, the gate, while still being narrow, changes in nature and substance, shrinking for the better. As you progress, if you could first cross it with a body of flesh, little by little you can cross it only if you become spiritual beings, transformed according to this end by the Holy Spirit. The first narrow gate begins with the Commandments. Obedience to the two tables of the Law is necessary for God’s blessing to descend upon man. But also so that man tastes the earth that God promised him. You go out of obedience, the gate closes. God comes to man with his blessing. Man does not ascend to God in the perfection of life. You follow another stretch of road. The gate of life and blessing is the fear of the Lord, which is root, crown, tree and the beginning of wisdom. One comes out of the fear of the Lord, the will of God is not accomplished, God does not descend with his grace, man does not ascend with his human truth, of a person made in the image and likeness of his Creator.

All wisdom comes from the Lord and with him it remains forever. The sand of the seashore, the drops of rain, the days of eternity: who can number these? Heaven’s height, earth’s breadth, the depths of the abyss: who can explore these? Before all things else wisdom was created; and prudent understanding, from eternity. To whom has wisdom’s root been revealed? Who knows her subtleties? There is but one, wise and truly awe-inspiring, seated upon his throne: It is the Lord; he created her, has seen her and taken note of her. He has poured her forth upon all his works, upon every living thing according to his bounty; he has lavished her upon his friends. Fear of the Lord is glory and splendour, gladness and a festive crown.

Fear of the Lord warms the heart, giving gladness and joy and length of days. He who fears the Lord will have a happy end; even on the day of his death he will be blessed. The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord, which is formed with the faithful in the womb. With devoted men was she created from of old, and with their children her beneficence abides. Fullness of wisdom is fear of the Lord; she inebriates men with her fruits. Her entire house she fills with choice foods, her granaries with her harvest. Wisdom’s garland is fear of the Lord, with blossoms of peace and perfect health. Knowledge and full understanding she showers down; she heightens the glory of those who possess her. The root of wisdom is fear of the Lord; her branches are length of days. One cannot justify unjust anger; anger plunges a man to his downfall. A patient man need stand firm but for a time, and then contentment comes back to him. For a while he holds back his words, then the lips of many herald his wisdom (Sir 1,1-21).

Jesus comes, as for him the narrow gate is the Holy Spirit, who will have to lead him to obey even his most hidden and undisclosed thoughts and desires, until death by crucifixion on Golgotha, so for the disciples of Jesus, the narrow gate is not the Gospel and it is not the Beatitudes, it is instead the perennial and uninterrupted obedience to the Holy Spirit. If we leave the government and motion of the Holy Spirit, we make of the Gospel a word like all other words. This is what is happening today in the Church of the Lord. We read the Gospel as we read every other book, every magazine and every weekly. It is a word, but not the Word of God. Instead, if we are in the government of the Holy Spirit, the Gospel becomes true Word of Christ Jesus. The Spirit of the Lord gives us the intelligence to understand it and moves us to its perfect implementation. It is the Spirit of the Lord what makes us live the Gospel according to the will of God today.

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets. “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints ensure that the Holy Spirit guides us through the narrow gate.