Theme: The narrow door

The narrow door

Teacher Marli had finished her class at school and was leaving in a hurry. She carried many materials, and she did not notice when a sheet of paper drooped from the materials.

Julinho, her student, was a little behind. He picked up the sheet from the floor and was about to call for the teacher, when he noticed that it was the math test that his class would have that week.

Within seconds, many thoughts crossed the boy's mind. “The test fell on its own. I just found it on the floor. I can tell no one, study the issues and get a good grade.” But soon Julinho thought differently. “I should give the sheet to the teacher. It’s not right for me to know the answers ahead of time.”

While Julinho was thinking about what to do, the teacher kept going, left the school and was gone.

- There was no time to return it, it wasn't my fault - he reflected, trying to justify his attitude.

The boy kept the test in his backpack and went home, without telling anyone. The hours passed, and Julinho was only thinking about what to do. He wanted to take advantage of the situation and get a good grade. But he knew it would be wrong to do so.

Early in the evening, Julinho's family gathered in the living room for the gospel at home, as they accustomed to do. After the initial prayer, Julinho's mother opened The Gospel according to Spiritism and read an excerpt. The chosen item was called “The Narrow Door”, and it started like this: Enter through the narrow door, because wide is the door of doom.

After reading, the mother explained Jesus' teaching contained in those words:

- People pass easily through the wide door. That's why so many people pass. But Jesus recommends that we choose the narrow door, that is, the one that requires effort. It is with effort that we exercise virtues, that we do what is right, in the eyes of God. Doing what is wrong may be the easiest or most pleasant, but Jesus teaches us that the wide door is the door of doom.

Hearing the explanation, Julinho remembered the test and understood that if he stayed with it, it would be like going through the wide door. He didn't want to tell the teacher, but that was the right thing to do.

After the gospel, Julinho told his mother what had happened and showed the test sheet. She encouraged her son to call the teacher, who thanked him and praised his honesty.

Teacher Marli explained that she had not yet made copies of that sheet, and since she had not found it, she had already started preparing another test. Julinho was relieved talking to her. And he was also happy on the day of the test, as he studied hard and managed to get a good grade.

Translation:
Larissa Martine - larissa_am@hotmail.com

marcelapradacontato@gmail.com