The gospel for Tuesday of the 12th week in Ordinary Time is from Matthew, seventh chapter, sixth verse, and the 12th through the 14th verse. Jesus said to his disciples, do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot and turn and tear you to pieces. Do to others what you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets. 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. I want to focus on the last part of this gospel, and that’s the part about the gate, the way into a kingdom that God has created for us after our life. And it was very common at the time that Jesus spoke these words that people thought, if I just keep the commandments, no matter how I treat people, it doesn’t really matter. But as long as I keep the Commandments, I will be a sure place in the heavens. And Jesus is trying to say, no, be careful. Because the way is not just doing what you’re told.

It’s a very complicated, painful, difficult process of entering into the work, of becoming who you are. That means accepting all your failings, all your weaknesses, all your strengths. It’s not easy. It wasn’t meant to be easy. Because transformation takes losing whatever you’re holding on to. It’s a kind of death, and we avoid it.

But it’s the way. It’s the truth. It’ll bring us life. Foreign Father, we so often work to improve ourselves and try to present to you something that you can feel, that you’re proud of, just as a child might do for their parents. But you don’t need that. You want us to feel and know the work that you’ve given us.

Bless us with the courage to face all that we are. Give us people around us who help us in this process, and we pray for this. In Jesus name, amen.