“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door (of heaven)” (Luke 13: 24) Even though God freely gives us salvation, we must still give Him a personal response. In the Annunciation, for instance, though Mary was already full of grace, the angel still waited for her to reply: “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.” Although Mary was uniquely blessed, God still gave her a narrow door to go through, as Simeon prophesized: “a sword will pierce your own soul.” When Mary witnessed Christ hanging on the Cross, didn’t she feel the piercing pain in her heart? Moreover, some disciples left Jerusalem after Jesus’ death; did that not increase her sorrows even more? On a similar note, though Peter helped Jesus in shepherding the Church, in the end he also chose to die on an inverted cross for the sake of the Lord. God’s will is for us to diligently and continually refine ourselves, so that the forces of evil cannot invade our souls. “Without carving, a piece of jade can never become a piece of jewellery.” (Chinese proverb)