It would seem, that anytime we might hear this Gospel, we think how difficult and almost nearly impossible it is for a camel to have to pass through the eye of a needle. However, to understand what Jesus is saying in the context in which He is saying it, it is necessary to not think of needle as this, but rather, as this.
For, during the time of Jesus, cities were guarded by large doors, under lock and key. These doors would only be opened for large entourages, pack animals, or wheeled vehicles. A single traveler, on foot, or by camel, however, would have to enter the city through a small doorway on either side of the large door, this small doorway was what was known as a needle.
What’s more, is that given how small the doorway was, if they were unable to fit, since this was the only way into the city, anything extra would have to be removed and sold. On top of that, in order for a large camel to enter through the eye of the needle, the camel would be forced to kneel.
It is great and visual metaphor for the gateway to the city of God, to the gateway of Heaven, for if Heaven stands on the other side of this gate, and we see it, but cannot get through without letting go, seeing it in all its beauty, it would seem, not only would we be willing to let it go, we would do so gladly, not because there is anything wrong with whatever it is we are attached to, but because we can then move unhindered and freely throughout that kingdom.
However, that’s not always the case, because, if we think about it, all of us have that one thing, that one thing that distracts us and keeps us from wanting everything that God wants to give us. For, the man in our Gospel, it was his wealth, yet, what is important to remember is that back then wealth was seen as a blessing from God, so what Jesus was asking was not just to give up wealth, but to trust Him enough to pick up everything and follow Him without question confident that he would be taken care of.
And it was too much, he couldn’t take that leap of faith. He was scared and when he was asked to give up that one thing in order to enter through the doorway, he went away sad.
Yet, it is St. John of the Cross who explains it well, he says:
The soul that is attached to anything, however much good there may be in it, will not arrive at the liberty of Divine union. For whether it be a strong wire rope or a slender and delicate thread that holds the bird, it matters not, if it really holds it fast; for until the cord be broken, the bird cannot fly.
The reason this one thing keeps us from God is because it is the one thing we find we care more about than Him. It is probably not something we like to think about, but, if we are honest with ourselves, we would realize that we are merely replacing the time, the effort, the energy, and sometimes even the love we should have for God with something else and it varies from person to person.
And, while it is a challenge to make God our only desire in life, while it is a challenge to walk unassisted and seemingly unequipped through that doorway, while it may even seem impossible, we are reminded of something very important: “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”
Indeed, that is the point, every seemingly impossible thing is still possible with God, which is why we are asked to take that same risk the rich young man was asked to take, to give up perhaps, not wealth, but something else, something even more important, because it is our own. Yet, knowing that by doing so, it is not an invitation to walk away sad but, indeed, to receive, as Jesus promised, a hundred times more in this present age and eternal life in the age to come.
For, during the time of Jesus, cities were guarded by large doors, under lock and key. These doors would only be opened for large entourages, pack animals, or wheeled vehicles. A single traveler, on foot, or by camel, however, would have to enter the city through a small doorway on either side of the large door, this small doorway was what was known as a needle.
What’s more, is that given how small the doorway was, if they were unable to fit, since this was the only way into the city, anything extra would have to be removed and sold. On top of that, in order for a large camel to enter through the eye of the needle, the camel would be forced to kneel.
It is great and visual metaphor for the gateway to the city of God, to the gateway of Heaven, for if Heaven stands on the other side of this gate, and we see it, but cannot get through without letting go, seeing it in all its beauty, it would seem, not only would we be willing to let it go, we would do so gladly, not because there is anything wrong with whatever it is we are attached to, but because we can then move unhindered and freely throughout that kingdom.
However, that’s not always the case, because, if we think about it, all of us have that one thing, that one thing that distracts us and keeps us from wanting everything that God wants to give us. For, the man in our Gospel, it was his wealth, yet, what is important to remember is that back then wealth was seen as a blessing from God, so what Jesus was asking was not just to give up wealth, but to trust Him enough to pick up everything and follow Him without question confident that he would be taken care of.
And it was too much, he couldn’t take that leap of faith. He was scared and when he was asked to give up that one thing in order to enter through the doorway, he went away sad.
Yet, it is St. John of the Cross who explains it well, he says:
The soul that is attached to anything, however much good there may be in it, will not arrive at the liberty of Divine union. For whether it be a strong wire rope or a slender and delicate thread that holds the bird, it matters not, if it really holds it fast; for until the cord be broken, the bird cannot fly.
The reason this one thing keeps us from God is because it is the one thing we find we care more about than Him. It is probably not something we like to think about, but, if we are honest with ourselves, we would realize that we are merely replacing the time, the effort, the energy, and sometimes even the love we should have for God with something else and it varies from person to person.
And, while it is a challenge to make God our only desire in life, while it is a challenge to walk unassisted and seemingly unequipped through that doorway, while it may even seem impossible, we are reminded of something very important: “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”
Indeed, that is the point, every seemingly impossible thing is still possible with God, which is why we are asked to take that same risk the rich young man was asked to take, to give up perhaps, not wealth, but something else, something even more important, because it is our own. Yet, knowing that by doing so, it is not an invitation to walk away sad but, indeed, to receive, as Jesus promised, a hundred times more in this present age and eternal life in the age to come.
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