He Knows Our Heart and That’s the Problem

We wake up each day with so much to do. There’s work, family, bills, responsibilities. Some of us rush through traffic. Others sit in long meetings, reply to WhatsApp messages, manage restless children, and spend more time with Instagram than with the people they love or the God they believe in. Some of us are in ministry, always helping, always serving. We’re doing what we can to keep life going.

Most days, we think that’s enough. We try to be good people. We show up at Mass. We do what’s expected. And we tell ourselves, “God knows my heart.”

But then a Gospel like today’s comes along and quietly stops us.

“Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many will try and not be strong enough.”
(Luke 13:24)

It hits differently when we realise this isn’t about “them.”
It’s about us. The ones who are already in church. The ones who serve. The ones who show up. People who think they’re already close to God.

And that’s where the line stings.

They say to Him, “But we ate and drank with You. You taught in our streets.”
But He replies, “I do not know where you come from.”

That hurts. Because deep down, we know how easy it is to live like that.
Close to the church. Involved in ministry. Saying the right words.
But still distant from God. We think, “God, You know my heart. Isn’t that enough?”
But maybe that’s the problem. He does and He sees how little space He’s been given.

It’s possible to serve in every parish event and still not pray.
To sit in the pew and let our minds wander.
To talk about God all the time, and never once talk to Him like a child to a Father.

Sometimes we are so busy doing good that we forget to be still with the One who is good.
We forget to listen. To be honest. To be real.

The narrow door is not about being perfect.
It is about being willing to drop everything at the threshold.
Our pride. Our control. Our “I’ll come back to it later” attitude.

Maybe this Gospel is not trying to scare us, but wake us up.
To remind us that the door is open now.
That Jesus is still calling our name.
Not to do more. Not to impress Him.
But to know Him. To really know Him.

Not just by showing up on Sunday.
But by walking with Him on Monday. And every day after.

Only the one who finally says,
“Lord, I don’t want to just know about You. I want to know You. And I want You to know me.”

So here’s the question.

Have I walked through the door?
Or have I just stayed near it, hoping that’s enough?

If you’re tired, come in.
If you’ve drifted, come back.
If you’ve been busy but empty, Jesus sees you.

He’s not asking for performance.
He’s asking for your heart.

The door is still open.

Come in. (BV)

Prayer

Lord, You see how busy and distracted I’ve become.
You know how easily I settle for being near You, but not with You.
Help me walk through the narrow door.
Not with fear, but with trust.
Not with pride, but with surrender.
Make room in my heart for You again.
And give me the grace to stay close, truly close.
Amen.