Enter Through the Narrow Gate

"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."

It is clear in that segment of the Gospel as well as all other parts of Jesus Christ's teachings that the world is not the answer. Jesus Christ came to destroy sin, Satan, and death, but the world remains His enemy. Unfortunately, the devil controls much of this world (Matthew 4:9). The world that loves sin continues to drift away from God. This is clear in 1 John 2:15-17

"Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. If any man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, is the concupiscence of the flesh, and the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the concupiscence thereof: but he that doth the will of God, abideth for ever" (1 John 2:15-17)

We, too, must also walk the road that Christ walked to the Cross; we are to bear our sufferings and remain focused on God. We too must walk the small path that the world doesn't want to see and aid our brothers and sisters that our suffering. We, however, must learn to love the people of the world no matter their condition; we must show unconditional love to all as Christ showed to everyone the Cross when He died our eternal death and replaced it with eternal life.

It will be hard. Each and everyday we will have to choose between doing "fun" activities and praying. We will be assaulted by distracting in prayer. But, remember, you must be God and prayer first. Pray the Liturgy of the Hours each day at least in the morning and evening. God will provide you with the time needed to complete your daily tasks. But, you must put him first.

The word "holy" comes from the Latin word "Sanctus". And "Sanctus" doesn't mean "perfect" and "innocent" as most people would think. Above all, it means to be "different". For Jesus Christ was different, and for that He was insulted and ridiculed. Know that if you are following Jesus, the world and those that love sin will hate you too.

How can we make a difference?

We can simply pray to God that He make us one nation, "a royal priesthood", and a unified people where the helpless are defended - especially the unborn. We can offer our time and talent in many ways a variety of ways from being an organ donor to giving blood to contributing to the Church in other countries. There are so many choices, but the world always seems to be calling us away. Just keep focused on Jesus and know where your money is going. I always check Charity Navigator and make sure the company doesn't support Planned Parenthood (The largest abortion industry in the US) before I contribute.

There are many, many choices out there but one underlining one:

"Jesus said to him: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40).

"Wrong is wrong even if everybody is doing it, and right is right even if nobody is doing it." -St. Augustine