Biblical scholars agree that today’s “eye of the needle” gospel is about how difficult it is for those who cling to material wealth to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Fr Charlie points out that even those of us who don’t have much material wealth are born with great spiritual wealth that we must not cling to either. We are all born rich with a God-given capacity for love, patience, compassion, understanding, empathy, and forgiveness. All these we are called to give freely to others.
The angel of the LORD appeared to [Gideon] and said, “The LORD is with you, O champion!” Gideon said to him, “My Lord, if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are his wondrous deeds of which our fathers told us?”
JGS 6:11-24A
“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.”
MT 19:23-30