WHEN someone asked Christ, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” His immediate answer was: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” (Lk 13,23-24)
It’s clear that Christ wants all men to be saved, but they—we—have to have what it takes to enter heaven. And that simply means that we have to try our best to “enter through the narrow gate,” which can mean a number of things.
Among them is the need for us to develop a sense of our own sacredness, since we cannot deny this basic truth about ourselves: we are not only another creature of God but rather his most special one, together with the angels, since He has created us in his image and likeness, meant to share in his divine life and nature.
That is the ontological truth about ourselves, our true identity and dignity, except that since we are intelligent and free beings, we have to do our part to correspond in the best way we can to that dignity.
That is why, in the First Letter of St. Peter, we are told, “As he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.” (1,15-17)
It is no presumption on our part to believe that we are meant to be holy and sacred because that is what God wants us and has designed us to be. No matter how unworthy we feel we are of that dignity, that truth of our being sacred persons since we are children of God cannot be denied.
And to have a working sense of our sacredness would actually help us to achieve the ideal condition of our life as we go through the good times and the bad times, our successes and failures, our joys and sorrows, etc.
We should never forget that God through Christ in the Holy Spirit has given us all the means to achieve that ultimate identity of ours. Thus, given our wounded condition due to our sinfulness, we should just learn also to wage continuing battle within and around ourselves to maintain that sacredness of ours intact.
Actually, when we have a strong sense of our sacredness, we would have the best condition in our life here on earth, no matter how things go. We would have peace and joy, we would always be hopeful, and if we fall, we would readily get up, asking for forgiveness which will always be given, and for the grace we need to continue growing in our spiritual and supernatural life meant for us.
A working sense of sacredness would also make us strong against temptations. It would show us how to convert everything in our life, both the good and the bad, into occasions, reasons and means for our sanctification.
It would protect us from the danger of self-righteousness, since it would urge us to follow the example of Christ, the pattern of our humanity and the savior of our damaged humanity.
It would make us keenly aware and effectively faithful to our duties and responsibilities as a human person and as a child of God. Let’s do everything to have a working sense of our sacredness, knowing that we are not only rational animals but rather also and most especially, true children of God!
