Daily Journey Through the Great Fast With the Early Churchনমুনা

Right before Moses handed over the reins to Joshua, he gave an inspiring speech to the people of Israel. In part of his speech, as recorded in Deuteronomy 30:19-20 he says, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; thereforechoose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days” - further expanding on this concept, Jesus instructs the people to, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” When we choose the way of life, we must struggle to continue following it, because it won’t be easy but the reward will be beyond our wildest imagination -nothingcan compare to the reward!

The way of the world is broad and easy, not hidden, in plain sight, for everyone to see…do what everyone else is doing, run with the crowd mentality – our wildest imaginations fall utterly short of what the world actually offers and to make it worse, that way leads to destruction - you don’t get what you hoped for and it’s even worse than what you’ve imagined. The way of life, is not apparent to all, not all are able to find it, not because it is hidden so well like in a treasure hunt, but it is not easily found to those that are not looking for it. To those that seek this road, this narrow path, they will find it. Jesus tells us, “in the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” [John 16:33] - yes, we will face difficulties on the road of life, but we shouldn’t be worried, nor be saddened, nor be troubled - He is with us, every step of the way, and we should be overjoyed because He has already overcome the world and its problems – in Him you will “have peace” [John 16:33]

This reminds me of those “hidden driveway” signs on the side of the road - blink and you’ll miss the hidden driveway, speed too quickly and you’ll miss the hidden driveway, but look for it and you will find the hidden driveway - so too when we look and are diligent in our search for the narrow path then we will find it.

“Attend to the words, for they have a special force, ‘many walk’ in the broadway - ‘few find’ the narrow way. For the broad way needs no search, and is not found, but presents itself readily; it is the way of all who go astray. Whereas the narrow way neither do all find, nor when they have found, do they straightway walk therein. Many, after they have found the way of truth, caught by the pleasures of the world, desert midway.” [St. Jerome, 4th century theologian and historian]