Of camels and needles

     Readings like this one today seem odd. When looking at Scripture through the lens of their own time, meanings and social constructs, it is difficult to imagine what the people, even rich people, could do, or have, that would be an impediment to them entering the kingdom of heaven. There was no such thing as an i-phone or Samsung Galaxies.   Is it all relative? and that people are people. Were the people with solid wooden or brass doors and tiled floors so enamored with their own status that they looked down on people with dirt floors, wooden floors and curtains for doors? 

        I can't think of anyone who is deluded enough to see how attached and proud we can be of our own possessions.  I recently went to an international auto show and sat in almost every car, truck or SUV. I was astounded that so many luxury marks had interiors and seats that were virtually identical to the simple Chevy's, Nissan's and VW's.  It occurred to me that people were not as interested so much in the real luxury but being able to say that they owned a brand new 100K Foochi Manooli or some such.  We can be more attached to cars, homes, schools or appliances than we are to our devotion to God and especially our fellow human beings. Would we part with a new Nutribullet if it could feed someone starving or help an underprivileged youth go to camp or college?

          A bumper sticker from long ago has long captivated me in it's wisdom. "Live simply so others can simply live".  Perhaps I am an anarchist for espousing a mantra of less, less, less rather than buy more,more,more.  Perhaps my 401K will take a nosedive if companies can't find buyers for all the latest thingamajig. I am willing to take the risk. I am not so inclined to be Amish either but I think we could each do our part to help the world, our brothers and sister and our mother earth.

           Otherwise, are we are doomed to be camels?

Matthew 19:23-26

Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, 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.’ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’