The Eye of the Needle

A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

The Eye of the Needle is very small, and Our Lord Jesus uses that analogy so well when speaking about Heaven. We read, in Mt. 19:22-25, "Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

"When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, 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."

When I try to get a thread through the eye of a needle, I squint and groan, because my poor eyes barely see the eye in the needle. Of course Jesus meant that very few rich folks will go to Heaven. Because unless they share with the poor, heaven is not for them. That doesn't mean that no rich persons go to heaven, it just means that unless you love your sister and brother less fortunate than you, as much as you love God, your path to heaven will be very narrow, indeed. Entrance into the Kingdom is not something that can be earned or gained on the basis of human merit.

Many Catholics seem to believe that they will go straight to Heaven. If that is your thinking, please see what needs to be fixed in your spiritual life. If you are unable to experience joy in your state of life, something is wrong. If you see others and all you feel is jealousy, there is something wrong. If you feel a constant urge to have what your neighbors have, there is something wrong. If your spouse wants to go fishing every time, there is something wrong in your relationship. And some people do not even realize that something is wrong as they have become so centered on themselves.

If they think about death and dying at all, they think about it in a very minimal way. What is more important is that they think about how they will get to Heaven. One doesn't get into heaven by stepping on others. But heaven will be available to people who are kind and joyful, who pray a lot and whose Christian example shines. Try to emulate those whom you look up to as solid persons. As people who are dedicated to Our Lord and who are able and available for others.

Surrender yourself completely to God. If you can remember a happy home when you were a child, that was the time you were more in touch with God than you are now. God wants us to know our place, just as kids do not tell their parents what they will have or do, so God awaits the follower, the questioner, and the searcher. Be open to His grace, and never yell at God.

Peace and all Good!

Fred Schaeffer, OFS

June 22, 2011, 2020

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