Happiness here on earth is the only richness that the Gospel promotes.

Reading: 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.” Matthew 19:24.

Good morning, happy Tuesday, and many blessings my dear family.

In today’s Gospel (Matthew 19:23-30) Jesus tells his disciples that it is easier for a “camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.” For many of us, this statement of Jesus sounds strange. Jesus was speaking of the narrow and low gates of the city walls which were used by travelers after dark when the public gate was locked. A normal sized person had to lower himself to enter through this gate. A camel literally had to kneel and crawl through the gate. 

When Jesus uses this analogy of “a camel passing through the eye of a needle,” his listeners immediately would understand what Jesus was implying. They knew that it would be absolutely impossible for any camel to pass through the eye of a needle. Or if a camel tried to pass through a city gate that had been closed for the night, the camel would not be able to do so. The closed passage would be too narrow.

Why was Jesus so cautious about wealth? Wealth can bring many blessings and many challenges. Wealth can also create a sense of false security. Our wealth can allow us to dominate other people or think that we are better than others. However, it seems to me that Jesus is clear about his concern that there is no way to accumulate wealth without taking what belongs to someone else. This is the reality of the unequal distribution that exists in our capitalist society. Definitely poverty (when we talk about money) is a socio-economic and political phenomenon that can be solved with a fair distribution of God's creation, because God created enough for all people.

Wealth has the potential to be an obstacle to having a true understanding of where the true riches in our lives lie: the people we love, the joy, peace, our faith, God's love and care for us and our relationship with God. But there is also a poverty full of wealth where the rich are defined, as Facundo Cabral said, with needing less. In other words, the person who needs the least is the one with the most wealth. And there is also a lot of happiness because I am satisfied with my life. And of course, there is the poverty of unhappiness, where you can have the material, but you are not happy. In any case, the Social Gospel of Jesus is not based on the accumulation of material wealth but on an equitable distribution. Happiness here on earth is the only wealth that the Gospel promotes.

But there is also a poverty full of wealth where a rich person is defined, as Facundo Cabral said, with needing less. In other words, the person who needs the least is the one with the biggest wealth. And there is also a wealth of happiness because I am satisfied with my life. And of course, there is the poverty of unhappiness, where you can have the material, but you are not happy. In any case, the Social Gospel of Jesus is not based on the accumulation of material wealth but rather on an equitable distribution. Happiness here on earth is the only richness that the Gospel promotes. This is why the Bible tells us: For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.

Today ask yourself: what is the wealth in your life? And more importantly: who is the wealth in your life? Who and what are your riches? Take time to thank God for abundance of wealth in your life (even if you struggle with finances). Name and give thanks for the people who en-“rich” your life with their presence, care and love. You (and I) are rich! Do we take this “richness,” this “wealth” for granted? I hope not!

Blessings,

Fr. Luis+