[Jesus said,] "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."

Dan Millman, the author of many inspirational books, began his life with a passion for gymnastics. More than anything else, he wanted to be the best gymnast that the world had ever seen. But he also wanted all the fun of life. He wanted the happy things that college could provide--the good times, the girls, the accolades of others. His friend and mentor Socrates was to call it "trash," and, according to Socrates, in order to accomplish what he wanted to accomplish, he had to "take out the trash." 

It is difficult for Christians to listen to Jesus' concepts of the "narrow gate" and "constricted road"; it implies that in order to achieve eternal life, we have to work at it. And further, as Jesus says, there are not many who truly choose it. One cannot just "sit back" and watch eternal life come; the spiritual life is interactive: we must involve ourselves, and we must make an effort to achieve it. We must do some thinking with Scripture, some spiritual reading, make some effort at keeping away the attractions of the world.

Socrates in the movie "Peaceful Warrior" would call it "taking out the trash." The trash is what the narrow gate and constricted road attacks. It consists of doing away with the things that lead us away from what we truly want in life, what will make us truly "happy."

There is much trash in the world in which we live. There are many things that can keep our minds from what is good for us. From electronic gadgets that occupy our minds and time to passing relationships that do nothing more than satisfy our selfish wants, we can give ourselves to the pursuit of "what feels good." But for the Christian believer, it is nothing but "trash," and if we want to accomplish anything good in life, we have to "take it out."

Dan Millman wanted to achieve greatness, and the only way he could do it, according to his mentor Socrates, was to attack the things that he liked. Likewise Christians, if they really desire the eternal presence of God, must choose the narrow gate and constricted road and thus avoid the things that keep us from God.                  

THOUGHT
 
PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son cautioned us to enter life by the narrow gate and constricted road. Help us be able to do the work it takes to follow his direction, and to keep ourselves from the "trash" of our world. Be with us, we pray.  

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©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America