The Eye

25Nov
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’

Those who heard it said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ He replied, ‘What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.’

Then Peter said, ‘Look, we have left our homes and followed you.’ And he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.’ 
-Luke 18:22-30


We all want to overthink this camel through the eye of the needle thing. Why? Because it is SO MUCH EASIER than truly hearing what Jesus is saying. In this case, Jesus is reiterating the first and great commandment “to love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. In other words, with everything He created within you and with nothing you have collected, earned, bought, worked for, been gifted, or is of your own creation. In order to be saved, not only must we give up all that we define our wealth or our success but we must give up/leave those whom we love. “...no one who has left house or wife or brother or parents or children…” Like the rich man, when we truly accept those words, we all become sad.


If I asked you what is most important in your life? You might answer my career, my family, my spouse, my children, my home, or my passion (art, music, sport, vacation spot, volunteer advocation). Rarely, would anyone say, “the stuff I have flippin’ worked so hard to achieve, buy, or own!” Even though that, me included, is exactly how we live. I can’t make that meeting, work has me tied up. I can’t pledge that extra few dollars to support that ministry, we have tuition due. I would be at Church but it’s a home game. If Jesus asked you or me, like his disciples, we would all come up with a more appropriate answer (“My Lord Jesus, My Christ, you, you are the most important”) though not the correct answer, God, the Father, He who has no name, Adonai. 


My view of this Gospel has changed with the growing scientific knowledge we have of cell life and mitochondria, quantum physics and string theory of the cosmos. I often see the needle but now with string of light passing through the eye. We know that humans and camels are strings of the energy bound together. We are all made of energy, atoms, protons, and electrons. We have complicated mitochondria that feed our cells and souls. These become the building blocks of blood, bones, muscles, and organs to become life forms. So why can the camel’s strings of cells make it through the eye of a needle but ours cannot? 


The camel is not worried about his career. The camel doesn’t place a priority on his wife, or children, or tuition. The camel loves and serves God by being what God created. The camel’s daily life is in community with God by doing the work God would have him to do through which God strengthens the camel’s cells and soul. The camel’s soul is not busy spinning his strings of cells into a complex, sticky web we humans like to call goals, dreams, ambition, success, and love. Often, we are upset to find that web not only didn’t feed our souls but it was toxic to our cells. When we change our priority, placing our community and relationship with God first, we change the pace of our lives. We find our cells and souls are strengthened and pliable. The work God would have us to do improves our relationships, our families, our jobs, and our communities. God untangles sticky webs of knots to be a beautiful woven thread that passes easily through the eye of a needle. “What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.”


Musical Reflection - Be Still - London Fox Taize Choir


Jesus, join me today as I live and work through my normal day. Give me easy opportunities to quiet my thoughts and actions. Encourage to turn from doing what I want and instead do that which I know God would have me to do. In doing so, I will learn the strength and Peace that comes when I live my life in daily community with our Father. Amen

Kingdom of GodParableSalvation

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