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Brothers,

You know well the foundational truths of this Gospel: the narrow door, the urgency of discipleship, the danger of presumption. But let’s go deeper, what does this mean for us as ordained men who have already given our lives to Christ in service?

Jesus’ words are not abstract. They are a sober reminder that ordination, titles, or good intentions alone do not guarantee entry through the narrow door. We cannot simply say, “We ate and drank in your presence, we heard your Word, we served at your altar.” To be known by Christ means our lives must bear the mark of His Cross - day after day, moment after moment, in the hidden fidelity that no one applauds.

When I served as an undercover cop, my team and I executed “no-knock” warrants. We came without warning, and when that door flew open, whatever was inside, good or bad, was laid bare. There was no time to prepare, no time to hide evidence or fabricate excuses. The reckoning had arrived.

Christ’s coming will be like that. And while criminals dreaded our arrival, you and I are called to long for His. But that longing only makes sense if we are living in such a way that our lives are ready to be exposed, where our hidden sacrifices, our fidelity to prayer, our love of family, our humble service in the parish are what He finds when the door bursts open.

The “narrow door” is not simply about restriction; it is about transformation. It is narrow because it requires us to strip away everything false, everything selfish, everything half-hearted. It requires that we fight - yes, fight - the good fight of faith (1 Tim 6:12). The world tempts us to take the wide road of comfort, applause, or minimalism in our faith. But brothers, our people need to see us striving, not coasting.

One day the Door will close. Not to terrify us, but to awaken us. For those who live each day walking the narrow road, the sudden arrival of Christ will not be a dread but a joy. It will be like the long-awaited knock of a beloved friend who has finally come to take us home.

So let us live not as men who fear being caught, but as men eager to be found, ready, willing, and rejoicing when Christ breaks through to “get us.”

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Receive + Believe + Teach + Practice

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