In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells us, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough… For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (Luke 13:24, 30) These are sobering words. They challenge us to think deeply about what it means to follow Christ — not just in word, but in the daily decisions of our lives.
At the heart of this teaching is a profound question of freedom. God created us with free will — the ability to choose how we live. But this freedom, as our Catholic tradition teaches, is not simply the power to do whatever we want. That is the secular notion of freedom so common in American culture: “Don’t tell me what to do; I’m free.” True Christian freedom, however, is the ability to choose the good — to choose God’s will with love and joy. As Pope John Paul II once said, “Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.”
That is the narrow gate: using our freedom to say yes to God. And let’s be honest — that’s hard. It means putting others before ourselves, letting go of our ego, and resisting the self-centered false freedom that says, “It’s all about me.” St. Ignatius of Loyola spoke of this false freedom as “unfreedom,” the ways our egos and attachments blind us from serving God and others. But when we live with detachment and generosity, we find the deeper freedom that Christ offers — the freedom to love.
This theme is echoed beautifully in The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. They remind us that true joy is not something we can achieve by ourselves. It only comes through relationship, compassion, and service. “We are fragile creatures,” they write, “and it is from this weakness, not despite it, that we discover the possibility of true joy.” Pope Francis says something similar in The Joy of the Gospel: “Life grows by being given away, and it weakens in isolation and comfort. Indeed, those who enjoy life most are those who leave security on the shore and become excited by the mission of communicating life to others.”
We see this kind of joyful service alive in our parish this weekend. What a beautiful Friday we had with our annual Rummage Sale! So many of you came to help, to buy, and to serve. We have one final day today, Saturday, from 10am to 2pm, and we invite anyone who has time to help with the clean-up beginning at 2pm. This is the Church at her best — a community freely giving of itself for others. I want to offer a heartfelt thank you to Pattie Sharrow and Nancy Perkins, along with their incredible team of volunteers, for their months of preparation and leadership. You have shown us what it means to walk the narrow path — the path of joyful sacrifice and generous love.
And what a week it has been as we welcomed back our St. Simon School students! Our campus, so quiet during the summer, is now brimming with life. Over 550 students returned — the largest enrollment in years! The joyful noise of children laughing, singing, and playing is music to our ears. It reminds us of why we do all this — to pass on the faith, to build up a community where every person knows they are loved and valued by God.
As we begin this new school year, may we all strive to walk the narrow path of love and service. May we use our freedom not for ourselves, but for the good of others. May we remember that in the Kingdom of God, the first will be last and the last will be first — not because of power, but because of love.
Let us choose the narrow gate. May we come to Church and help build the Kingdom of God here on earth and in our community of St. Simon. We welcome all the families back to school and Church. It is not the easiest road, but it is the one that leads to life, to joy, and to Christ.
God Bless,
Fr. Brendan