The Narrow Door

家主是基督，祂身為天主，無處不在。即使祂在天上，祂清晰的臨在於那些悅樂祂的人內；而為那些仍在塵世的朝聖途上奮鬥的人，祂在暗中扶持。當祂使整個教會注視祂時，祂會進來，並把門關上，那時墮落的人再沒有機會悔改。站在外面的人會敲門，懇求祂的憐憫，但再哀求也是徒然。

這些全適用於基督徒身上。我們在彌撒中領受基督的聖體聖血，祂在我們靈魂的大街上施教。但這盛宴不會得到不虔誠的人的喜愛。對聖經的熟悉也不會使天主認識他，邪惡的行為使他不配進入天國：「他要說：我告訴你們：我不認識你們是那裡的；你們這些作惡的人，都離開我吧！」

有很多人起初充滿熱忱，之後冷卻下來；亦有很多人起初冷漠，在一瞬間卻變得熱情；很多在世上被鄙視的人在來世會享光榮；而另一些被人稱譽的，最終會被問罪。

The master of the house is Christ, who since as very God He is every where, is already said to be within those whom He gladdens with His visible presence though He is in heaven, but invisible to those whom He helps in secret while they are still contending in this earthly pilgrimage. But He will enter in when He shall bring the whole Church to the contemplation of Himself. He will shut the door when He shall take away from the reprobate all room for repentance. Who standing outside will knock, that is separated from the righteous, will in vain implore that mercy which they have despised.

These things apply to Christians. For we eat the body of Christ and drink His blood as often as we approach the mystic table at Mass, and He teaches in the streets of our souls, which are open to receive Him. The banquet does not delight one who is impious. The knowledge of the Scriptures does not make him known to God, whose iniquitous works proves to be unworthy; as it follows, "And he will say to you, I know not whence you are; depart from me."

Many at first burning with zeal, afterwards grow cold; many at first cold, on a sudden become warm; many despised in this world, will be glorified in the world to come; others renowned among men, will in the end be condemned.

References:
On the Gospel of Luke (St. Bede the Venerable)
Explanations on the New Testament (St. Theophylact of Ochrid)
In Regulas Brevius Tractatus (St. Basil the Great)
Homily in Psalm 1 (St. Basil the Great)
Morals on the Book of Job, Book XI (St. Gregory the Great)