***
If you’ve ever traveled through an airport then you know the drill of going through security.
When it’s your turn, you must empty your pockets, remove your jacket, belt, and shoes, and place your luggage on the conveyor belt before walking through the metal detector.
That “narrow gate” has no extra room for your luggage.
***
Isn’t that an appropriate image for life?
We cannot take anything with us when we go, except our faith and the good works we’ve done for others; you might say, what’s in our heart.
This is why Jesus cautions us against riches – they have no lasting value; yet we can spend our entire life in pursuit of them.
But it’s not just riches that can get in our way; some of us may be clinging to an unhealthy habit, an unfulfilling relationship, or above all, the fear of saying, “yes” to God.
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Just consider the man in today’s Gospel.
“Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” … “Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor,” Jesus says. “Then come, follow me.”
But he walks away sad, “for he had many possessions.”
***
On the surface, this young man was probably a very good person – religious, diligent, attentive, an achiever; even a perfectionist.
As he says to Jesus, “Teacher, all of these commandments I have observed from my youth,” meaning he’s honored his mother and father, he’s never killed anyone, he’s never committed adultery, never stolen anything, never lied.
But being a good person doesn’t necessarily translate into being a good disciple; faith can be much more demanding than that.
“Go, sell what you have,” Jesus says. “And then come, follow me.”
These are very radical demands. Jesus not only asks this man to sell everything he owns; he also asks him to part with his own plans for the future.
And perhaps that was even more difficult – losing control; giving it to God.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus says. That is, follow the path that I have in mind for you.
But this young man just can’t do it. He wants to live life on his own terms.
***
Do you think if he had followed Jesus that he would’ve been happier in the end? Would he ever have regretted saying, “yes” to God?
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This is ultimately a question we all must answer. Will we let God take control of our lives? Will we let him plan our futures? Or will we live life on our own terms?
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Perhaps the greatest obstacle to saying, “yes” to God is fear.
Like this rich young man, it’s the fear that if we allow Jesus to take control, if we put his teachings into practice, then we’ll miss out on life; we won’t have any fun.
It’s the fear that Jesus will challenge us, lead us beyond our comfort zones, down paths we didn’t plan ourselves.
It’s the fear that if we give up our belongings and our habits, we’ll not be happy; we’ll be sad.
Fundamentally, it’s the fear of missing out, or as the Millennials say, “FOMO.”
My brothers and sisters in Christ, this fear is a lie!
Look at what happens to the young man in the Gospel. He walks away sad! He chooses his possessions, he chooses the world, he chooses to live life on his own terms, and he walks way sad…
Although we know ourselves well, God knows us better. God can make us happier than we can make ourselves.
***
To our young people, will you entrust your future to Jesus? Will you be open to his voice?
And parents – will you encourage your children to follow him, even if that means saying “yes” to a life of service, such as becoming a missionary, a nun, or a priest?
Will we fight the “FOMO,” the fear of missing out, trusting that the Lord has better plans for us, plans we couldn’t make on our own?
***
Jesus asked for everything from the rich young man – his wealth, his heart, and his future. Fortunately, Jesus doesn’t always place the same demands on us; not everyone is called to sell their riches and give them to the poor.
But we are all called to give Jesus our heart – and that includes control of our lives.
For only he can lead us through the “narrow gate” into his kingdom, where we can take nothing with us but what’s inside.