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.”
—Luke 13:22-30
We ate and drank beside you, Lord;
we sat and listened at your feet.
O Mercy, was there something more?
We followed as you walked our streets:
Will you not open up the door
and welcome us to sit and eat?
We long have sought the narrow gate,
and with its ancient locks we vie.
We labor as we watch and wait,
but cannot pass the needle’s eye.
But see, O Lord, the hour is late!
Let not your mercy pass us by!
For all we know has been reversed—
it’s worthless on the narrow way
where blest is hunger, blest is thirst,
and all our riches hold no sway.
The first are last, the last are first,
and night is now as bright as day.
We cannot do it. Lord, draw near
and make us new, each breadth and length.
Come give us hope and quell our fear
and labor where we lack the strength.
For you alone can pass through here:
Come open wide the narrow gate.
Gate and wicket (manway) of Alsfeld‘s New Town Hall By Mylius – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6106745
Kate Bluett 