Gospel in Art - It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God

Nameless and Friendless, "The rich man's wealth is his strong city" - Proverbs, x, 15', Engraving by Maarten van Heemskerck © Christian Art

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 17th August 2021 - Matthew 19:23-30

Jesus said to his disciples, 'I tell you solemnly, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.' When the disciples heard this they were astonished. 'Who can be saved, then?' they said. Jesus gazed at them. 'For men' he told them 'this is impossible; for God everything is possible.'

Then Peter spoke. 'What about us?' he said to him 'We have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?' Jesus said to him, 'I tell you solemnly, when all is made new and the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory, you will yourselves sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life.

'Many who are first will be last, and the last, first.'

Reflection on the Engraving

In our engraving by Maarten van Heemskerck published in 1563, we see a camel driven by three men: a farmer, a judge and a merchant, all deemed to be rich men in Jesus' time. They try to force the animal through the eye of a needle that is held by a hand coming out of the clouds. On the left we see another rich man holding bags of coins in his right hand, making his way through a very narrow gate. If, and only if, he gets through the gate, he will join the other people we can see on the far left who are walking on their way to Heaven, a way that leads to Christ in the clouds holding a cross. The print is part of a series of engravings Van Heemskerck did titled The Wretchedness of Wealth, all scenes depicting the dangers that come with wealth.

After yesterday's reading about the rich young man, Jesus continues to warn us against treasuring riches too much. The trouble with earthly possessions is that they can too easily possess us! As in yesterday's reading, Jesus is not saying that he has anything against people with money. Of course not, as a lot of faithful followers of God in the Bible were very wealthy. That's not the point. But he warns us that possessions can very easily distract us from God and hold us back from fully devoting ourselves to helping to build His kingdom here on earth. Riches come with responsibilities and duties at the service of God.

Many people, even scholars, say that Jesus in our Gospel reading was referring to a gate that entered Jerusalem called 'The Eye of the Needle'. Well, I am not sure that is what Jesus was talking about. I think he did deliberately want to paint the image in our minds using the biggest animal known to people in the Middle East at the time (a camel) and setting it against the smallest opening his listeners could imagine, the eye of a needle. A powerful image.

Jesus knows that it is almost impossible for us not to love our possessions. He knows how hard it is for us to get rid of any distractions that separate us from God, riches being one of them.

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/901
Christian Art - www.christian.art