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.
We saw the liability of riches yesterday when the young man's attachment to his many possessions caused him to choose not to follow Jesus. He allowed them to rule his heart even though theirs was a tyrannical rule that resulted in his sadness. Following Jesus was the way to the freedom and joy that he sought, but he could not bring himself to follow that path. We can see in the disciples, by contrast, those poor in spirit to whom belonged the Kingdom of God.
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."
The disciples were not prevented by their wealth from following Jesus. Peter and Andrew, James and John, had left their nets to follow Jesus. Matthew left his job as a tax collector. And yet even they were taken aback by the Jesus' caution about wealth.
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
"Who then can be saved?"
They must have interpreted their own giving up of everything as a temporary thing which would be rectified in when Jesus reigned in his Kingdom. They may have imagined that this establishing of the Kingdom would first require worldly wealth and power, which they would acquire, use to bring about the reign of Jesus as an earthly king, and then enjoy as those closest to him. But if even wealth itself was insufficient to bring about the ideal of Jesus they were left to ask, "Who then can be saved?" They hadn't thought too much of their own wealth before, since it was mostly negligible to begin with. But now that they began to sense that they weren't heading toward a vision of fulfillment in this world they began to wonder just what they were chasing. It was, perhaps, a little better before they thought too much about it, when to follow Jesus himself was the overriding priority that made them forget all the rest. Nevertheless, now that it was considered it was better to clarify what was in their hearts.
Then Peter said to him in reply,
"We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?"
Jesus went on to explain to Peter that those that abandoned physical goods for the sake of the Kingdom would receive spiritual rewards. In particular, the apostles and their successors would, "sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" describes the role exercising ecclesial authority. But it was not only the apostles who would discover the blessings that accrued to those who followed Jesus. Everyone who chose to put him first would "receive a hundred times more" and "inherit eternal life". But all of this was on the far side of what as possible for men. It was only possible with the help of the God for whom all things were possible. Only with his grace could anyone truly let go of the things of this world and embraced the way taught by Jesus himself. Without that grace there would always be insistent clinging to possessions or to position, to any measure of control over our lives and the ability to satisfy ourselves that we could maintain. There would always be the lingering question, 'What about me?' keeping us distracted from the work Jesus would set before us.
Grace had the power to make even large camels small enough and humble enough to enter the narrow way Jesus taught. It would not seem glamorous immediately, and the journey might seem difficult. But the promise was certain and the reward was worth far more than any effort.
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (see Second Corinthians 4:17)
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