23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. (Matt 19:23-30)
A CAMEL? A YARN?
On of the verses that have consistently struck me through my youth are words of Jesus in today’s gospel: “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God” (Matt 19:24). A camel, through the eye of a needle? These are apples and oranges. We have always been told to avoid mixed metaphors. Through the years I have heard different proposed solutions to the problem—from religion teachers, bible professors, priests giving their homilies.
One common solution is that the “eye of the needle” is a little gate in Jerusalem, that is opened after the main gate was closed at night. Its size would not allow a camel could not pass through this gate unless it stooped and was bereft of its baggage. This may be consistent with the rest of the narrative. One with excessive wealth would find it difficult to go through a small and narrow gate.
During the time I was doing my biblical studies, our professor in Aramaic, Professor Craig Morrison, distributed to us our handouts. At the introduction to the course, there is a quote from Barbara Kingsolver: “Oh, and the camel. Was it a camel that could pass through the eye of a needle more easily than a rich man? Or a coarse piece of yarn? The Hebrew words are the same, but which one did they mean? If it’s a camel, the rich man might as well not even try. But if it’s the yarn, he might well succeed with a lot of effort, you see?” This is supported by one of the topics that followed—Aramaic questions in the New Testament, like is kamilo camel (Greek kamelo) or rope (Aramaic kamilo)? Thus, it may read: “It is easier for a piece of yarn to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” And thus, yes, we can succeed!
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. What was the biggest step that I have taken in my life in order to follow Christ?
2. What are my attachments in life? What are the things I find most difficult to give up?
Lord, take what I have, all these are yours.
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