The Invitation of the Narrow Gate

In all four Gospels, we encounter the narrator or Jesus, depending on which Gospel we are in, advising us that “A prophet is not without honor except in his/her hometown and in his own household,” (Matthew 13:57; cf. Mk 6:4, Lk 4:24, Jn 4:44). I have often thought about this Scripture over the years and held it close when I was feeling unheard or unseen in my own “household;” my own parish. How many of you have been involved in a ministry for years in your parish, one that you have discerned the Lord has truly called you to by way of giving you the graces and gifts needed to do the work? One that has given you much joy, one that God has fertilized and watered with his abundant love to such an extent that many fruits have been realized and embraced?

There is nothing better in the world than t

o feel yourself being propelled by the action of the Holy Spirit, being witness to what God works in you and through you for the ones you are ministering to. But what happens when this changes for you? When it begins to feel like you are running out of time. When you sense that you are on your way out, not part of it anymore, that you are being invited to “walk through another narrow gate,” (Lk 13:24).

Finding God's Invitation in Transitions

For me, that invitation “to walk through another narrow gate” has often finally been understood after I have felt “pushed out” of a ministry, overtaken by another person or group who wants to change the way I have been executing the ministry or wants it to go back to the way it was before I was involved, which often happens in parishes. It is part of the ebb and flow of ministry, really, the ebb and flow of life. However, knowing this does not make it any easier. I get comfortable for a while, really settle in to doing a ministry for God, feeling fulfilled and at peace, but inevitably, after a time, I am invited to go elsewhere.

Years ago, this often happened in a way that was quite unpleasant, usually some incident that would literally have to wake me up out of my comfort zone and direct me to the next place God wished for me to go. During those times, it was difficult to get past what I perceived as some sort of personal attack on my abilities, or I would hide behind the decision that the new person’s inability to do it well justified my staying in place. When I learned to remember that from God, everything is an invitation, when I truly learned that God speaks to us wherever we pay attention (in these cases, my ego), and that God always has our highest good and the highest good of all in mind, my heart opened more fully. 

The Little Flower reminds us, "you know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them." It always boils down to love, does it not? Love of God, love of neighbor, love of self. Jesus did not say, “they are not listening because they do not love you, so you cannot be a prophet anymore.” Jesus was telling us that when they stop listening, it is time for us to move on, let God use us for something else for God’s good purpose. Walking through the narrow gate does not have to be painful and difficult if we remember to invite God into it. Entry can be gained if we allow God to move us through it, always striving to be instruments of God’s love and mercy. So wonderful to know, again, that we are not in charge, that God awaits us at every gate.