Tuesday of week 20 in Ordinary Time

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle....

Another parable in which Jesus tells us that riches are not the way to heaven. It is better to give away your riches - use them for good, as that is an investment in Heaven. This puts the lie to those who preach a prosperity Gospel - the idea that a good life will be rewarded in this - therefore wealth is a sign of goodness!

It is often amusing to read of attempts to make Jesus' parable a reference to narrow gates in walls in Jerusalem. These narrow gates do exist! But Jesus was using the art of hyperbole - that the more extreme an image is the more important the message. There can be few extremes more clearly made than the idea that the largest animal most people of the time would know about, could fit through the smallest hole they might see in days to day life. A Camel, through the eye of a needle! We all know how difficult it can be to get a thread through there!

Let your attention be drawn to Jesus' message - Hoarding riches is not the way to heaven!

Posted in Daily Reflection.