Every four years we have the opportunity to watch the pinnacle of human sporting achievement in the Olympic Games. The last games took place in Paris last year, where the finest athletes from around the world gathered to compete. It takes a great deal of talent in order to take part in the Olympics, and also a huge amount of effort and training. To be the best requires a significant effort. Living out our Christian Faith is, likewise, something we have to work at. Following Christ should both challenge us, and bring out the best in us. It is hard work, often requiring great effort on our part. And yet, the effort we put in is as nothing compared to that of God, who sent His Son to be born for us, and to show us how to live. Jesus demonstrates the Love of God in action, to show us how to live lives of radical generosity. Our endeavours are part of a co-operation with God, so that we can grow and develop in our faith together. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus and His disciples are making their way towards Jerusalem, teaching in the towns and villages, en route. As they travel, Jesus is asked a question:

‘Meddai rhywun wrtho, “Arglwydd, ai ychydig yw’r rhai sy’n cael eu hachub?”’

‘And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?”’ (Lk 13:23)

Christ does not answer the question directly. Instead He offers some advice:

‘Ac meddai ef wrthynt, “Ymegnïwch i fynd i mewn trwy’r drws cul, oherwydd rwy’n dweud wrthych y bydd llawer yn ceisio mynd i mewn ac yn methu. Unwaith y bydd meistr y tŷ wedi codi a chau’r drws, gallwch chwithau sefyll y tu allan a churo ar y drws, gan ddweud, ‘Arglwydd, agor inni’; ond bydd ef yn eich ateb, ‘Ni wn o ble’r ydych.’’

‘And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us’, then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’” (Lk 13:23-25)

First and foremost, the narrow way is the way of the Cross. Our Lord is going to Jerusalem to be rejected, and to be put to death, so that He may rise again, and show the world the way back to the God who loves us. We who follow Him are to expect nothing less. We show ourselves to be Christ’s disciples not just by what we SAY but also by what we DO. Our actions often speak louder than our words.

In the Gospel, people presume that because they heard Jesus teach and have eaten and drunk with Him and that all is well. While they have enjoyed Our Lord’s hospitality, they have not actually responded to His message. They have not believed in who He is, and what He does. Rather than salvation being offered solely to the people of Israel, instead the whole world is included. Everyone, everywhere, all at once, is invited. This is something radical, something new, which is first prophesied in the words of Isaiah in our first reading this morning. 

The prophet Isaiah has a vision of a future with a God who knows us and loves us. He gathers the people of the world together, so that they may see God’s divine glory. As Christians, we believe that this teaching points forward to Jesus Christ, who is the Word made flesh, the true demonstration of God’s majesty in the world. He will demonstrate that glory most fully on the Cross, when He suffers and dies for humanity, to take away our sin. This is the sign God sets among us, so that we may declare God’s greatness among the nations. The Cross is the sign of God’s love for all people.

Declaring God’s glory is the prophetic aspect of the Church — the sharing of the Good News. With it comes a commitment to holiness of life, so that our words and actions are in tune with each other. We cannot succeed in this by our own strength or efforts. Instead we must rely upon God’s grace. Every day we should humbly acknowledge our need for God. Only Our Heavenly Father can transform us. Only God can forgive our sins, our failures and our shortcomings. Through grace Christ can transform us, more and more into His likeness. 

This recognition of our limitations and failings opens up a space where God can be at work in our lives, transforming us to live the Divine life of Love. This is the narrow door of this morning’s Gospel. The opening is narrow because if we have a sense of our own self-importance or of our worth which is too large then we cannot enter — our image of who and what we are gets in the way.

Following Christ is often hard. It is far easier to coast along and take the easy options. That is why Christians meet together to encourage and support each other. This is what the Church is for. We are a collection of sinners trying to live in response to the love of God which has been poured out on each of us. This is something which we need to do together: loving each other; loving our enemies; living out forgiveness as we have been forgiven and loved by God. This is a radically different way of life to that which the world encourages us to practise. Naturally we will sometimes fall short, but the point is not that we fail and give up, but that we keep trying. We must keep on loving and forgiving. Plugging away together, in order to be built up as the body of Christ. Humbly letting God be at work in us. He, by His Grace will transform our nature and make us the people of God, able to live out His love in our community.

As I have already said, living out our faith is hard. In addition, others may mock us as we attempt to follow the Gospel. Yet, we believe in a God who loves us, and who would never belittle our efforts to follow Him. As Christians we pray for the fire of God’s love to be kindled in our hearts and lives, so that we may be ablaze for Him, aflame with love for God and for our neighbour. Loving our enemies and our friends, enables us to change the world, not just this village, or this county, but all of God’s creation; all of humanity. In doing so we help others to know God’s love so that it may rule in their hearts and lives.

And so, my brothers and sisters in Christ, let us then hasten to enter through the narrow gate, so that God may continue to transform us. Let us give thanks that His saving love and power is at work in our hearts and our lives, remodelling us. Let us sing praise to God, i Duw Dad, Duw y Mab, a Duw yr Ysbryd Glân. To God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I’r hwn y priodoler pob gogoniant, arglwyddiaeth, a gallu, yn awr, ac yn oes oesoedd. To whom be ascribed all glory, dominion and power, now and forever. Amen