THE WIDE EMBRACE, THE NARROW GATE
“See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God.” – 1 Jn. 2:30
Becoming a child of God is living the Beatitudes and so finding the narrow gate into the Kingdom….Isn’t the little child poor, gentle, and pure of heart? Isn’t the little child weeping in response to every little pain? Isn’t the little child the peacemaker hungry and thirsty for uprightness and the final victim of persecution? And what of Jesus himself, the Word of God who became flesh, dwelt for nine months in Mary’s womb, and came into this world as a little child worshipped by shepherds from close by and by wise men from far away? The eternal Son became a child so that I might become a child again and so reenter with him into the Kingdom of the Father.
Lord, give us beatitude instead of superficial happiness, grant us sorrow for our sins instead of tears over our worldly losses. Lead us to the true food of your bread and wine, body, and blood. Amen.
Adapted from Henri Nouwen