Not strong enough... Narrow gate

[Opal0427]

Yesterday’s readings about the narrow gate have me stressed out and confused.

I’m a new Catholic. & I’m kind of freaked out that many people will reach their judgement day after living a life with Christ only to be sent away. They weren’t actually saved - though they genuinely thought they were! Wouldn’t their sins be venial in that case?

Jesus said many will try to enter the narrow gate but won’t be strong enough. They’ll think they lived a Christian life and they’re headed to hell.

What???!!??

I thought as long as you weren’t in a state of mortal sin and were genuinely trying to reach towards God you were saved. You might end up in purgatory, but not hell.

I’m not strong!! Now, I’m very sad and scared.
I’m rich and don’t trust God enough to give away my stuff if I was called to. I’m selfish & usually fail to love others as God’s loved me. I doubt I’d lay down my life for a friend, let alone an enemy.

I’ve been praying for God to fix me and fighting my weaknesses, but haven’t made much if any progress yet. If being like Jesus is the narrow gate, I absolutely wouldn’t fit through it today!!

I’m scared. Why isn’t God fixing my heart when I’m not strong enough to fix myself?

 

[Dolphin]

It’s more about that it’s hard to follow the Gospel Lifestyle and strive away from mortal sin. It’s hard to reject a life of pleasure and worldly possessions

 

[BartholomewB]

I thought as long as you weren’t in a state of mortal sin and were genuinely trying to reach towards God you were saved.

We’ll all find out in due course whether we’re saved or not. Nobody knows in advance. That is to say, nobody has certain knowledge of that.

 

[Hodos]

I’m a new Catholic. & I’m kind of freaked out that many people will reach their judgement day after living a life with Christ only to be sent away. They weren’t actually saved - though they genuinely thought they were! Wouldn’t their sins be venial in that case?

I think that you need to understand who the audience was that Luke was addressing in his gospel, and the audience to whom Jesus was speaking in this passage. Luke’s audience is Gentile. Jesus audience in this particular instance are Jews who came to listen to his teaching, but may or may not have accepted Jesus as the Christ. So there are a couple things going on here. Jesus is warning the Jews that there is a narrow way (in John, that narrow way is identified as Christ himself). If they do not enter through Christ, they will be left out of the kingdom of heaven. They cannot rely on the fact that they are Jews or their works. They must be known by the master of the house (Christ). He further proclaims to them that not just Jews will enter, but also the Gentiles, which is Luke’s way of telling Theophilus that he is indeed saved if he believes in Christ. Take heart. We are saved by faith through grace on account of Christ.

That being said, if you are struggling with temptation and sin, remember you are being sanctified through the Holy Spirit. This is a process. Talk to your priest, talk to your brothers and sisters in Christ and they will help you in your walk with Christ.

 

[Kullervo]

Do you have Spotify? Check out bishop Barron’s homilie on this topic.

Jesus says that it’s not enough to have faith and to attend Mass. We must live like him and act like him. That’s very hard, just like passing through a narrow gate.
Don’t be afraid.(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 

[Dorothy]

I share one thought…

For many it is not necessary to give up all possessions to follow Our Lord Jesus Christ.

By that I mean, we need certain possessions…we just need to learn how to use them and be detached from them, and to share some of what we have for those in need.

When we ask for His help, his merciful grace will supply what we need.

 

[Justin_Mary]

I’m not strong!! Now, I’m very sad and scared.
I’m rich and don’t trust God enough to give away my stuff if I was called to. I’m selfish & usually fail to love others as God’s loved me. I doubt I’d lay down my life for a friend, let alone an enemy.

I’ve been praying for God to fix me and fighting my weaknesses, but haven’t made much if any progress yet. If being like Jesus is the narrow gate, I absolutely wouldn’t fit through it today!!

Peace.

I think you are right where you need to be. If you’re being true to yourself with what you’ve said here & true to God, you have the right disposition. Are you strong enough to stay there, wait on God?

Remember this is a journey & you’ve identified some obstacles on your path. Continue to pray about them. Continue to seek Our Lord. Continue to be faithful to His Church & she will guide you along the straight & narrow path.

A lesson from the cross is that Our Lord suffered it willingly. Will you suffer this question you have now, willingly?

You’ll need faith, which leads to trust. Both of which will grow stronger as you exercise your faith.

This is what I am doing. I feel I’m in the exact same place as you (except the rich part) & what I am telling you is what I am hearing from St Louis de Montford, St Faustina, St Therese, etc… trust in the Lord our God. Stay the course.

 

[Opal0427]

Thank you.
You’re right.
God is working on me.
He gave us His church for a reason.

Perhaps this valley is exactly the love I need right now. I am not lost. A little blind. But my shepherd is doing what’s best for me. And you.

I don’t have to see everything. He does.

 

[po18guy]

Short answer: they deceived themselves.

1. Do not let your heart be troubled!
2. God did not make salvation complicated.
3. Have the faith of a child.
4. The Church has only 5 precepts which allow one to be a Catholic in good standing.
5. Distilled roughly, one might say: Love God. Love neighbor. Receive the Sacraments.

Done.

Again, do not let your heart be troubled.

 

[TheLittleLady]

God told us what to do. He is not going to pull a “gotcha” at the end.

Live a life where you frequently receive the Sacraments. Turn from sin. Do good works. Pray. Trust HIM!!

 

[Opal0427]

Thank you for the reassurance, advice, & the link.
I’d forgotten about the 5 precepts to be in good standing.

 

[Opal0427]

Very well summarized!
Thank you.

 

[Todd_Easton]

Jesus said many will try to enter the narrow gate but won’t be strong enough.

The New American Bible (and the Mass lectionary based on it) is unique among English translations in using the words, “will not be strong enough.” In their place, most other English translations, including the Douay-Rheims and the various Revised Standard Version-Catholic Editions, use the words, “will not be able to.” (source)

 

[steve-b]

[snip]

I thought as long as you weren’t in a state of mortal sin and were genuinely trying to reach towards God you were saved. You might end up in purgatory, but not hell.

objectively speaking that’s true.

However, there’s Another way of looking at this,

Since Jesus said, few are saved, that means Most people who might THINK they are without moral sin, were wrong.

So one asks, how so?​

just one Example:

Georgetown Univ did a survey

one subject in the survey is…

Sunday Mass attendance​

The survey said, only 21% of Catholics attend Sunday Mass faithfully every Sunday. Meaning 79% don’t. Objectively speaking, 79% of Catholics in the survey are in mortal sin. We kinda know this anyway given the numbers of C& E (Christmas & Easter) Catholics who only go to mass on one or both of those days. Rest of the year they blow off mass.

AND​

How many of THEM (C & E Catholics) for example, go to confession before receiving the Eucharist? Not to mention, if they DO go to confession but have no intention of changing their pattern of behavior, they aren’t forgiven of their previous mortal sins they confessed, and place on top of that mortal sin the sin of sacrilege when /if they receive communion.

So why is deliberately missing mass on Sunday a Mortal sin?​

HERE

BTW: Grave sin = mortal sin, they are synonymous
Opal427:

I’m not strong!! Now, I’m very sad and scared.
I’m rich and don’t trust God enough to give away my stuff …

I’m sure there is more to that than meets the eye.

 

[po18guy]

First and foremost is love. Love is a conscious decision we make.
Love desires the good of the other.
Love does not count the cost.
Let everything you do be based on love.

 

[Vbwc]

Here’s a tip. pray the Rosary every day of the rest of your life, it doesn’t take up much time and it is a great way of getting closer to God.

 

[Dan_Defender]

‘He who loves God with all his heart does not fear death or punishment or judgment or hell, because perfect love assures access to God.’ - The Imitation of Christ

 

[poche]

It is recognized by the doctors of the Church that we advance in stages. A good example is “The Interior Castle” by St Teresa of Avila.
I recommend that you calm down and work on trying to be the best that you can be. Live the holiness that God is calling you to live. If you make a mistake and have a fall get back up and move on.

 

[Convert3]

As the Psalmist says: “His mercy endures forever.”
You’ve begun your journey. I began mine three years ago and it literally turned my life upside down. I’m more at peace now than ever, but it was a rough journey with some serious bumps in the road. Keep Christ in front you in your journey and you’ll be fine.

 

[De_Maria]

Yesterday’s readings about the narrow gate have me stressed out and confused.

Don’t be. Throw yourself on the mercy of God.

I’m a new Catholic. & I’m kind of freaked out that many people will reach their judgement day after living a life with Christ only to be sent away.

That’s not true.

They weren’t actually saved - though they genuinely thought they were! Wouldn’t their sins be venial in that case?

Yep.

Jesus said many will try to enter the narrow gate but won’t be strong enough. They’ll think they lived a Christian life and they’re headed to hell.

Hell is the place of the dead. Purgatory, in certain definitions, is part of hell.

What???!!??

Yep. The narrow gate is the gate which goes to directly to heaven.

Think about it. Have you ever heard of grading on a curve? That’s short for the “bell” curve.

Bell Curve - Investopedia
https://www.investopedia.com › terms › bell-curve

If you notice, the bell curve has two narrow portions, on each side and a wide fat belly. That bell curve actually reflects life. It tells us that most people are basically good. But there are a few people who are Saints. They are the ones entering through the narrow gate. And there are a few people, at the other extreme, who are evil. They are going straight to hell. But most of us will go to Purgatory.

I thought as long as you weren’t in a state of mortal sin and were genuinely trying to reach towards God you were saved. You might end up in purgatory, but not hell.

That’s right.

I’m not strong!! Now, I’m very sad and scared.

You’re God’s kind of people.

2 Corinthians 12:9but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. 10 Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong

In your weakness, you must cry out to God and He will be your strength!

Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

cont’d