Matthew 7:13
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.
We braved Disney in the rain last weekend. We knew there was a 60% chance, so we stuffed the boys' ponchos in my backpack, our raincoats in Davis' and said, "We're Floridians! We know how to brave the elements!" As was predicted, it poured, and we were prepared. The best choice we made was to leave the double-wide stroller at home. The boys are old enough to walk and it's a good way to wear them out. So when the rain was coming down and we were walking through the park, it was pretty easy to navigate around.
One stretch of a covered walkway was super crowded. There were so many people hunkering down that the space to get through was only about 3 feet wide. If we had had the stroller we would've been running over some feet, for sure.
In today's gospel reading, Jesus reminds the people that the wide path that allows us to do, say and believe all things leads to death. The narrow gate that is more difficult, leads to eternal life. I'll tell you what, from our experience this weekend, it's a lot easier to get through the narrow gate without all the baggage.
It's a lot easier to make choices that lead to eternal life when you don't something holding you back like sin, unforgiveness, or bitterness. So what are you carrying that is putting up a wall keeping that grace from flowing to you? Go to God in prayer and the sacraments and let it go.
