Emmaus
Through The Narrow Gate
Going through “the narrow gate”, perhaps the best challenge we face in going to God, even in His omnipresence. With God’s intense respect for our liberty, our free will, He allows us to work on going to him, upon our discretion. After all, God already worked on His end of the bargain.
A wonderful thing to ask amongst ourselves would be, “How do we address the challenge of entering the narrow gate?” We may, in all respects, begin with the basic acknowledgment that we have a basic need, and that is God. He is a basic need for us, beyond the needs which we physically yearn for. It is through this acknowledgment that we traverse the path to holiness. As Canals so beautifully said,
“We have set out along that way: the pearl of great price has been shining in front of us; that hidden treasure has brought joy to our heart.”
Rightly so, such a pearl, like God, is priceless. From the very first step of our journey, we already feel that sense of joy which intensifies after every step. However, it is not a smooth path. It is not an all-good journey. It is filled with difficulty. So why feel an all-encompassing joy? This is because our target is narrowed towards the “pearl”. Our sight is on the “pearl”. We learn to look beyond the obstacles, whether physically present or those brought about by our inner thoughts and feelings. This, though, does not mean that whatever lesson we gain from the obstacles are to be neglected, for a journey is not meaningful simply based on the attainment of the finality of it, but also on whatever we may have gained as we go along that enhances the appreciation of the end. Therefore, we can surmise that whatever else we gain in the journey provides for a greater yearning of the “pearl.” It adds further to the pricelessness of the “pearl”.
What, then, are we provided with in this journey? As presented earlier, God already worked on His end of the bargain. This “end of the bargain” consists of the Scriptures, the Sacraments. It may seem as if this is but elementary knowledge, but, elementary as it may seem, it is one that we fail to fully comprehend, and thus, not able to completely gain its fruits This end of the bargain is already given to us, many times, and even if we seek to turn away from it, it will always be present. After all, it is up to us. We have gained the liberty to accept it or reject it. However, thinking about it, this liberty is sourced from one being: God.
Here now comes our end of the bargain. Our end can be provided if we allow it to stem out from us. This also concerns values and virtues beneficial in our daily journey in life and in the attainment of the “pearl”. This second half is from a voluntary means of opening up to God’s end of the bargain, grasping it, comprehending it both in mind and in heart, thus allowing us to reap its fruits.
This reflection was taken from of my personal entries during a silent retreat I attended back in 2008.
Ave Maria!
