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Gospel Reading for August 20, 2024 – Matthew 19: 23-30
GREAT SACRIFICE
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 the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
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The gospel today is a continuation of yesterday’s gospel where the rich young man, after hearing from Jesus that it wasn’t enough to follow the 10 Commandments to gain eternal life, but that he had to give his possessions to the poor, went away sad because he had many possessions.
It is said that Jesus must have been speaking of the Needle Gate which was a low and narrow entrance found in the wall surrounding Jerusalem which is used when the main entrance is already closed. For a camel to go through it, everything on it has to be stripped and the camel has to crawl through it on its knees. Whether Jesus was referring to this or not, Jesus was describing the GREAT SACRIFICE one has to go through if we wish to have eternal life – we need to take the narrow entrance, be stripped of things we have and want, and to crawl in humility and reverence by recognizing God as the center of our lives. And, we cannot do all these. We need the Spirit of God to help us strengthen the virtues of Faith, Hope and Love!
Lord Jesus, we pray to remain faithful to your teachings till the end of our lives!
