Tuesday of the Twentieth Week of the Year 

Matthew 19:23-30

 “The Eye of the Needle.” It’s a symbol that makes us uncomfortable. Most people when they hear this, kind of breathe a sigh of self-righteousness saying to themselves that this doesn’t apply to me, it applies to all those other fat cats who have millions.

            Of course, it applies to all of us. The key question here is what possesses our heart? What is the thing that we live for and are willing to die for? What is the thing that rules and motivates our life, our thoughts and all that we do?

            Material possessions can be obstacles for those who have much and for those who have little. Jesus warns those with great possessions that they will enter the Kingdom with difficulty. It is hard to carry and drag all of our possessions to God. They can become an end in themselves.

            The person living in the Spirit of Jesus must see every material thing as a blessing and a gift from God. But every material thing has a responsibility that comes with it. When we are blessed we are expected to be a blessing to others by sharing what we have with those who have little or nothing.

Our use of the things of this world is a reflection of how we love and follow Jesus. We know people who are richly blessed but who are also a blessing to so many others. Riches make them more humble, more sensitive and more concerned about the rights and needs of others. Unfortunately, the opposite also happens and the eye of the needle becomes a reality in their lives. They can’t enter the Kingdom because they’re too encumbered.

Where do you and I stand? Are our blessings leading us closer to Jesus? Do we use them as occasions to bless the Lord by sharing them with others? Are we sensitive to the poverty and pain all around us? Do we try to reach out and touch others who need our help?

            The Eye of the Needle is for all of us to ponder. The old image of the power of attachments is good for us to ponder. It goes like this: if a bird is tied with a very thin silk string or a steel cable the result is the same: it can not fly. What is keeping us from flying?