The gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Have you ever wondered how a person or group that seemed to have it all together spiritually ends up in a place far away from the Truth? We were discussing one example of this the other morning. A seemingly orthodox Catholic group in the 1800s that preached a message consistent with the Gospel ended up being excommunicated after adopting practices that were wildly contrary to the Faith. How did they go so far off course?
As with so many things in the spiritual life, we see analogies in the natural world that help us to understand spiritual principles. One concept to consider is that of a trajectory. A trajectory is the path taken by an object moving through space. If you fire a projectile, for example, it will initially fly in a straight path. Over distance, however, gravity and air resistance will cause the projectile’s trajectory to drop and it will eventually fall to the ground. The image below shows the difference between the intended path and the actual trajectory of the projectile.
Another related concept to consider comes up in navigation. The 1 in 60 rule is a navigation principle that provides that for every 60 miles traveled, a 1-mile error in track corresponds to a 1-degree error in heading. For example, if a ship is off course by 1 degree, it can result in being one nautical mile off track for every 60 nautical miles traveled. The Mount Erebus air disaster1 was the result of a 2° course error. That tiny 2° deviation in course led to the aircraft being 28 miles to the east of the planned route when it impacted a mountain instead of flying through the open passage.
A friend of mine who is a retired Coast Guard captain explained this concept to me last year. He explained that when navigating a ship over a long distance, the solution to avoid a course deviation is to take frequent bearings from the ship’s current location to the destination and then change course early and often. The more often these bearings are taken and the ship’s course reset to the same destination, the less abrupt the change in course will be. It may not even be noticeable and you will avoid the unfortunate outcome of ending up in the wrong place. As with air travel, if a large ship ends up missing the correct channel into port it will run aground.
With respect to the spiritual life, Jesus warned us that navigation is important in our journey to heaven. Apparently many people end up at the wide gate the leads to destruction instead of the narrow gate that leads to life. How much difference does 1° or 2° of error make in the trajectory of a spiritual life? Should one gamble with how far from the Truth one can deviate and still end up at the correct destination?
“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”2
How do we navigate to the narrow gate that leads to eternal life? We navigate the spiritual life as Christians using the guidance given to us in Scripture and Tradition. Both provide guidance on living as a follower of Jesus Christ. There are many trustworthy additional resources applying Scripture and Tradition to ordinary life that can provide us with a better understanding of these guiding principles.
That being said, Scripture and Tradition do not provide guidance on the many decisions we make every day. Nor is every theological question answered with certainty. How do we stay on the course that will lead us to heaven? If we apply the navigational principles discussed above to the spiritual life, what might that look like?
“Take frequent bearings from the ship’s current location to the destination and then change course early and often.”
- We need to check in spiritually with God in prayer every day. Every day that goes by without prayer is potentially a course deviation. As we saw above, even a 2° course error can lead to catastrophic results over time. Prayer is our lifeline as Christians. It is our personal relationship with the God who loves us.
- We need to read the Word of God and meditate upon it. Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.3
- We need to repent daily of our sins. This requires humility, which disposes us to accept the Truth and follow it. If we stubbornly refuse to repent from sin or error, we are already on a course deviation. Repentance allows us to get back on course. For Catholics, we must go to confession if we are aware of having committed a mortal sin. Unrepented mortal sin puts one on the path to destruction—confession is the course correction.
- We must forgive others. Unforgiveness is a blockage to spiritual growth, healing and deliverance. It can lock you into a major course deviation! Remember that forgiveness is an act of the will, not a feeling. You can make the decision to forgive someone even if you do not “feel” like it.
- We need to ask the Holy Spirit for light and guidance. Jesus promised us that “the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”4 Ultimately, it is by living life in the Holy Spirit that we stay on course to the narrow gate. We walk by faith, not by sight.5
The Bible is full of promises that God wants good for us and will help keep us on the path. We can have full trust and confidence that God is able to direct our path to the narrow gate if we are willing to do our part.
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.6
I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.7
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.8
A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.9
Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.”10
He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?11
The inspired Word of God provides us with a perfect prayer for these intentions:
Make me to know thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me, for thou art the God of my salvation; for thee I wait all the day long.12
Everything I have written on this Substack and in my two books was prayerfully intended to help all of us navigate the spiritual life and end up at the narrow gate. The series of posts called “A Journey Though the Spiritual Life” (1-8) covers the three stages of the spiritual life and can provide encouragement and insight into the difficulties you might be facing as you push forward.
My prayer for you today is that you renew your commitment to God to listen to His voice and follow His ways and that the Holy Spirit will shine His Divine Light upon you to lead and inspire you to stay on course. May God grant us all the grace to find the narrow gate and rejoice together in eternal life! We make all of these prayers in the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.
Eric A. Welter is an employment lawyer and trial attorney with a long-time devotion to intercessory prayer. He is a Catholic Christian who has been involved with intercessory and healing prayer ministry for over twenty years. This article can be found here.