TODAY’S WORD…

Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to perdition is wide and spacious, and many take it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

– Matthew 7:13-14

REFLECTION…

The way of sin is momentarily pleasant and calls for no effort, but…it leads in the direction of eternal perdition. The plain fact is that the majority appear to avoid the road that leads to life – they even despise it because it involves carrying “the cross”; it involves self-giving and self-sacrifice.

Self-denial, forgiveness of others, monogamy, meekness, renunciation of the pursuit of wealth as the chief end to life, and other basic principles of faith and morality- all seem to be diametrically opposed to our baser instincts which propel us constantly in the direction of the wide, glittery and seducing way.

It is only those truly desiring salvation, who set their minds upon the things of heaven and on the Lord’s promise, and determinedly enter and negotiate, with God’s help, the narrow and demanding way…that leads to eternal Life.

QUOTE…

“If a man resolves to submit himself to carrying this cross – that is to say, if he resolves to desire in truth to meet trials and to bear them in all things for God’s sake, he will find in them all great relief and sweetness wherewith he may travel upon this road, detached from all things and desiring nothing.

Yet, if he desires to possess anything – whether it comes from God or from any other source – with any feeling of attachment, he has not stripped and denied himself in all things; and thus he will be unable to walk along this narrow path or climb upward by it.”    – St. John of the Cross

PRAYER…

Lord, detach me from everything…and lead me along Your Way.