Gospel in Art: It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle

Fiunt, quae posse negabas, by Johann Vogel, 1649 © Peace Palace Library, The Hague

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 22 August 2023
Matthew 19:23-30

Jesus said to his disciples, 'I tell you solemnly, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.' When the disciples heard this they were astonished. 'Who can be saved, then?' they said. Jesus gazed at them. 'For men' he told them 'this is impossible; for God everything is possible.'

Then Peter spoke. 'What about us?' he said to him 'We have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?' Jesus said to him, 'I tell you solemnly, when all is made new and the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory, you will yourselves sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life.

'Many who are first will be last, and the last, first.'

Reflection on the engraving

In yesterday's gospel reading the rich young man found it impossible to follow Jesus because of his attachment to his possessions. He desired so much to follow Jesus, but couldn't bring himself to make the necessary sacrifices. We of course don't know what happened to him after. Maybe later on in life he did do exactly what Jesus asked him to do. Jesus continues in today's Gospel reading to build on this theme of sacrifices that need to be made to inherit the kingdom of heaven. He gives us this powerful image: 'it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of kingdom of heaven'.

We can feel Peter's reaction to this image that Jesus painted. Peter spoke. 'What about us?' He is clearly worried that maybe they too won't get to heaven. Jesus cuts short Peter's negative thinking with a very hopeful statement, 'for men this is impossible; for God everything is possible'. Jesus is saying that arriving at our ultimate destiny is more God's doing than our doing. We depend on God's mercy and his grace. So it all comes down to trust. We need to trust in the Lord and do our best… and then we hope we may enter the kingdom of heaven too.

In our engraving from 1649, we see a dromedary camel passing through the eye of a needle, as a symbol of the improbable Peace of Westphalia. Underneath the image we read the inscription 'Fiunt, quae posse negabas' (Things that you denied could come to pass, or better translated as 'what you never thought would happen, actually happened'). The illustration was used to illustrate how improbable a final peace arrangement was, but yet peace did happen. The Peace of Westphalia of 1648 is the collective name for two peace treaties signed in October 1648. The treaty brought to an end the Eighty Years' War (1568-1648) and also the Thirty Year's War (1618-1648). It was one of the most destructive wars, killing over eight million soldiers and civilians as a result of battle, famine, and disease.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-19-23-30-2023/