The Narrow Path

[Rolypoly]

I’m trying to get a better understanding of the Christian life. As it appears to me it is like walking an extremely narrow path (kind of like it says in the Scriptures). For example you can either be too aggressive or too cowardly, too permissive or too strict, too soft-spoken or too judgmental, too indicisive or too rash, too hard on yourself or too full of yourself, or even too liberal or too conservative, and on, and on, and on. Every sin can be seen as a deviation either in one direction or the other, and it is very hard not to fall off the path either to the left or to the right, although we can always get back on the path when we fall off if we choose to do so, and of course the Lord gives us the grace through the Sacraments to help us out. Do I have a good understanding of the Christian life?

 

[JRKH]

In a sense yes you do, but it is a sense that over complicates the matter.
Christ summarized the entire Law and Prophets in two commandments with one common denominator. Love. Love God - Love neighbor (Mt 22:36-40)

The Christian life is not about maintaining some nearly impossible balancing act, but rather about remaining focused on the one crucial goal - Heaven and method - Love. Everything else is building on this.

If one is practicing archery they are consentrating on the target and not what is NOT the target.
If one is driving on an narrow windy mountainous road, one concentrates on the road and not on what is NOT the road.
If one is walking a tightrope or balance beam one is concentrating on the rope or beam and not on what is NOT the rope or beam.

While it is true that in each of these endeavors there is much to be learned and practiced and understood, the central goal and aim is fairly singular. To hit the target or to reach a destination. All the practice the “rules” the training are disciplines or tolls to help achieve the particular aim.
Chr Christian life is like this. We are to be conformed to God and that means being conformed to Love. All the rest is geared toward that goal.

Place Love at the core of your heart and your faith journey and all the other things will come into proper focus.

Peace
James

 

[Monica4316]

I’m trying to get a better understanding of the Christian life. As it appears to me it is like walking an extremely narrow path (kind of like it says in the Scriptures). For example you can either be too aggressive or too cowardly, too permissive or too strict, too soft-spoken or too judgmental, too indicisive or too rash, too hard on yourself or too full of yourself, or even too liberal or too conservative, and on, and on, and on. Every sin can be seen as a deviation either in one direction or the other, and it is very hard not to fall off the path either to the left or to the right, although we can always get back on the path when we fall off if we choose to do so, and of course the Lord gives us the grace through the Sacraments to help us out. Do I have a good understanding of the Christian life?

It is a narrow path, but remember it is love for God that counts the most and that is what keeps us on this path. That is what we should focus on, simply loving God through all that we do and fulfilling His will humbly.