The Narrow Gate

On Sunday, the drive back to Pennsylvania from Detroit/Toledo was too long for me to make Mass at St. Alphonsus in McDonald so I went directly to the 6 p.m. Mass at St. Paul's Cathedral in Oakland.

The cathedral looked beautiful from my vantage point in front of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (pictured above). You certainly can see the results of the restoration campaign. And, in addition to the superficial beauty -- the cathedral also was filled with college students returning for the new semester at Pitt and CMU.

The Gospel at Mass was a good one for those beginning something new: Christ's teaching to "strive to enter through the narrow gate" -- to do things that are right and good, even if not necessarily popular.

From Luke Chapter 13:

Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.

Someone asked him,“Lord, will only a few people be saved?”

He answered them,“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from. And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”