Someone asked Jesus, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. (Luke 13:23-24)
I was thinking today about why someone would not be able to pass through a door, and I pictured myself carrying bags of groceries over my shoulders, a soccer ball under my arm and a piece of furniture in my hands, trying to kick open the door with one foot. Nope, not going to work.
Hands free
I wonder if trying to fit through the Narrow Door, to follow Jesus, to build the Kingdom of God, we need our hands free of clutter. (Adults call this baggage.)
Once, when I was at confession, the priest told me to pray the Our Father with my hands empty, palms up. Empty - not carrying anything - no hurt, no guilt. Empty - ready to receive gifts of love and forgiveness from God.
We pick up pain and anger, guilt and sin as we live this life. We are human. It happens. But we are not meant to carry it all around with us.
So how do we put it down???
Only with the grace of God.
Ask, and God takes away the pain and anger and guilt.
Come to the sacrament of Reconciliation, and God takes away the sin. All of it. Absolutely. (That's why it's called "Absolution"!) God is so wanting and waiting to do this for you. God is calling on the other side of that Narrow Door.