It is amazing that all it takes if faith in Christ to enter through the gates of Heaven. God has blessed those who are faithful, and makes them holy, and so they can enter through the gate. Jesus gives us a parable about entering into the sheepfold through the gate. Those who try to climb over are like robbers. They have not had the needed conversion of heart and soul that comes through Christ: the repentance and salvation that he preached, that the Church preaches now at his command.
There is a story, The Dangerous Journey, a retelling of Pilgrim's Progress written for children, that emphasizes how difficult the life of a Christian, the temptations and challenges that befall us on our path. The main character, Christian, has several friends on his journey that help him. Toward the end of his journey he comes across a fellow sojourner who has crossed the field and climbed a fence and walks with Christian the rest of the way to the castle. When they reach it, the man is not allowed in because he came as a deceptive untrustworthy stranger across the field and over the wall. Christian's heart has been true though and though he's been tempted and strayed from the path, he was always found the right path again that led him to Kingdom, to the gate, to the place of his salvation. And it is his example that will lead the other members of his family. Jesus is trying to impart this to us. Life can and will be difficult, but the only way to the Kingdom is through him. He is our shepherd, and so too are those he has appointed in his place: our pope, our cardinals, our bishops, our priests, and our deacons. Theirs is to help us follow the course so that we come to the gate not as strangers, but as friends and brothers and sisters of Christ.
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