Pope Francis commented before the Angelus prayer of 21 August on the Gospel passage about the “narrow gate”, and invited pilgrims to adapt to the measure of Jesus Christ in order to enter the Kingdom of God.
Newsroom (22/08/2022 18:00, Gaudium Press) At the Angelus this Sunday, 21 August, Pope Francis prayed with the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
Before the Marian prayer, the Pontiff commented on the passage from the Gospel of St. Luke that appears in this Sunday’s liturgy.
In the passage, Our Lord asks if those who are saved are few, and then answers: “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door” (Lk 13:24).
The Pope explained the apparent contradiction between the statement that the door is narrow and Jesus’ teaching that “Many will come from east and west, from north and south, and will share together at the table in the Kingdom of God” (Lk 13:29).
The meaning of the narrow door
Pope Francis concluded by explaining that “the door is narrow, but it is open to everyone! Do not forget that: to everyone! The door is open to everyone!” he insisted.
The Holy Father then explained the metaphor of Our Lord. At that time, at nightfall, the gates of the cities were closed and only one door, the narrow door, remained open to give access to the interior of the city.
Then the Pope said that Jesus’ statement: “I am the door: whoever enters through Me will be saved” (Jn 10:9) means that to enter into God’s life, into salvation, one must pass through Him, not through another,” the Pope said.
To adapt oneself to Jesus reduces selfishness
Therefore, the Christian must adapt himself to the measure of the “door,” that is, to the measure of Jesus. This means following Him, committing one’s life in love, in service and in the gift of self as He did, Who passed through the narrow door of the Cross.” This adapting oneself to Jesus reduces selfishness and the presumption of self-sufficiency.
Pope Francis asked the faithful to think about the countless gestures of love that happen daily: the dedication of parents to their children, those who devote themselves to caring for others rather than themselves, those who respond to evil with good.
“These are some examples of people who have not chosen the wide door of their own comfort, but the narrow door of Jesus, of a life spent in love,” the Pope said.
To conclude his reflection on the Gospel, the Pontiff posed some questions to the pilgrims: “Brothers and sisters, which side do we want to be on? Do we prefer the easy way of thinking only of ourselves, or the narrow door of the Gospel, which puts our egoism into crisis, but makes us capable of welcoming the true life that comes from God and makes us happy? Which side are we on?”
Compiled by Sandra Chisholm