Our
gospel passage today needs clarification on two points. The
first is that whether or not the “eye of the needle” was one of the gates of the
city of Jerusalem through which, after hours, a camel could pass and gain entry
into the city only after having its baggage removed and was made to get down on
its knees in order to crawl through – or whether this is just a kind of
hyper-analogy that Jesus used to make a point – the fact is that “getting into
the city of God” – getting into the heavenly Jerusalem – is going to be a
difficult thing for everyone who wants to go there no matter who – and the best way to get through the gate is
baggage free and on your knees in prayer and supplication!
The other point is that all
who are called to discipleship – and that is a fair number of people – are
called as well not to do it the easy way: just following the commands that are
learned from childhood, but sacrifice of
self is also required: a giving up and away of the possessions of mind,
body and even spirit that we value so highly, the things, the baggage that ties
us down, so that we can be free to follow Jesus as he requests: enormous riches
will be ours if we but make the initial plunge and detach ourselves completely
from what is ours, even everything about our life!
Abandonment
to God, full trust in him, and the wedding garment of faith and love are all
that are really necessary in life: all the rest, anything that
is really necessary for our lives will be given to us by a loving and doting
Father-God – who loves each and every one of us beyond all telling!
The Letter to the Hebrews
tells us that what is in our hearts will
be exposed one day: God is able now to read our hearts, and then all will
know: why not then purify what goes on there now to the best of our ability by
inviting the fire of the Holy Spirit to come into us to cleanse us of what is
dross, and to refine what is pure, and to refashion us into a fitting
instrument for God’s glory!
This would be the prudent way
talked about in the first reading from the Book of Wisdom. Wisdom to know as
God knows, to love as God loves, to understand as God understands is worth more
than anything, or any one, or any place! The countless riches that come from
those who seek wisdom alone are beyond compare! Let us be among the wise-ones
who not only seek her, but find her!
It is the poor in spirit who understand the words just spoken, it is the pure of heart who love God simply, and
others freely; and it is the seeker of
wisdom who will gain all the benefits of a search well rewarded: may we
find ourselves in this company one fine day – it’s not as impossible as it
might seem, for with God, with faith,
all things are possible!
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