Jun 7, 2002 By The Rev. Alexander Jalso 4 min read

Scripture reading: Matthew 7:1-14. Text: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14.

The implications of this text can be many, wide (big) versus small, broad vs. narrow, many vs. few, destruction vs. life, easy to enter vs. hard to find, worldly vs. spiritual, limited time vs. eternity. These contrasts can be interpreted indirectly even on a higher level, e.g. natural science versus the teaching of the Bible; however, this time we wish to see only one aspect of our text, namely the juxtaposition of the negative and the positive.

What we can learn from Mother Nature and the scientists?

What is so obvious for us it is not so simple for the physicists.

Scientists study heat and cold, light and darkness, acceleration and deceleration, flexibility and hardness, microcosmos and macrocosmos, practical and theoretical, simple and complicated. Scholars will tell you that these pairs should be studied together, or at least while dealing with one, the other one should be considered as well.

Opposite parts in the spiritual life.

The very first thought we should perceive is, many things, entities and issues, have their counterparts and one of the parts will become clearer and more understandable if we pay attention to its opposite also. Unfortunately the concepts of “heaven” and “hell” are not so clear in our mind, therefore we should put it in this way, the reality of salvation requires the existence of condemnation. You are either close to God or far away from him.

Agnostics question the existence of God and rely chiefly on observation, thinking, and knowledge. They can come up with certain evidence to substantiate their views, yet we humbly ask them, please, see the other side of the story also and place the negative and the positive side by side (juxtapose). The negative hurts even more when we know that the chance is there to be positive – helpful, constructive, and kind.

Hatred and love. Are you tired to hear about September 11, 2001? Does terrorism affect our life? Is the media full with murder, aggression, and violence? If the answer is affirmative, then we should ask, is not love an important spiritual commodity?

Doubt and faith. It is not hard to question almost any statement, belief, idea, principle, and since life is so rich and offers such a great variety that we can come up with a counter example easily. However, having a positive attitude, frame of mind, and conviction the ultimate outcome will be more favorable with faith then without it.

Retaliation and forgiveness. When anger takes over our mind and we wish to teach him/her a lesson, what is easier, to retaliate or restrain ourselves? Are you sure that you were so insulted as you imagine? If you retaliate, don’t others have the same right to do the same? When and how will the vicious circle stop: “I just hit back?”

Defiance and prayer. What is easier to say, no or yes? What is easier to do, find excuses or comply? Prayer is often interpreted as submission, however, if everybody will tend to his/her own business exclusively, what will happen to the community?

Indifference and care. Life itself is hard enough, how many people suffer from incurable disease, born with handicap, disabled by accident, live in poverty, therefore it is fair to say that the lucky ones should help, assist, and support the unfortunate ones. Who knows in what kind of situation will you, or I, or we be tomorrow?

Cruelty and kindness. Somehow we inherited Cain’s genes (original sin) and it is assumed that if I eliminate you my life will be easier because you are in my way. Has it ever come to your mind that you can be in the way of a bully also? The surest way to get rid of an enemy is to kill him/her. A dead person never spoke or retaliated.

There are other pairs of negative and positive attitudes like stinginess and generosity, arrogance and humbleness, being short-tempered and patient. Think, where will we end up with the negative and in which direction will the positive lead us?

Let Jesus’ another positive – negative statement complete this meditation: “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33.

The Rev. Alexander Jalso is a retired United Presbyterian minister living in Brownsville.