With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed you. Therefore what shall we have?" So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

- Matthew 19:23-30

In yesterday's reading, we began with a scene in which children were being brought to Jesus for prayer and blessing -- but the disciples wanted to keep them away. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Then Jesus met a young man -- who is understood to be a young ruler. The young ruler asked Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus first taught that "no one is good but One, that is God." And then He instructed the young man to keep the commandments. "Which ones?" asked the young ruler. Jesus repeated the commandments concerning community: those against murder, adultery, false witness; the command to honor father and mother; and to love one's neighbor as oneself. All these he has kept from his youth, says the young man. "What thing do I still lack?" he asked. Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." This is a double emphasis here -- a complete and powerful metaphor for the difficulty encountered in attachment to wealth. I think we have to consider again the previous passages, so recently related in Jesus' teachings. He has been teaching all about leadership -- the humility required, to come to God like a little child, to consider always the priority of the "little ones" in the Church, even as if they are receiving Christ Himself. He has taught about forgiveness in the Church. (See the several readings that begin with this one.) Jesus has also taught about proper relatedness in marriage, and even to little children, building on His instruction concerning rank, hierarchy, leadership. If we see yesterday's and today's readings in context, then, Jesus is still building on teachings that concern hierarchy and leadership: wealth and rank are linked in the social life -- especially concerning a ruler, a type of aristocracy. In Jesus' kingdom, detachment from riches is necessary if only as a beginning step to understanding the radical nature of relationship and humility before God, especially with respect to the "little ones."

Additionally, my study bible points out that there was already a phrase familiar in Israel that comes from the Talmud: "for an elephant to go through the eye of a needle." There is a lot of speculation on what Jesus may have meant by the vivid phrase He uses here, even whether or not it is a mistranslation. Either way, it is used as a strong metaphor for difficulty, already somewhat familiar to His listeners. If we think of it as metaphor, it is as if there is a lot of baggage of which to let go -- the things one carries around as if they are truly part of one's person. Identity, in this kingdom, comes from relationship to God and to neighbor.

When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" Appropriately, the disciples respond to Jesus' teaching, His emphasis, and the strong metaphor. But the question is useful, for it teaches us something about the power of God.

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." If we reflect on this statement, we can see that it will apply to a number of things that can be possible in our lives, almost anything we can think of. But here, it is in important context: God's power and grace help us to do the things we need to do in order to be a part of this kingdom. The seemingly impossible is possible with God, so great is God's love, so powerful an act of mercy in assistance to those who want to be a part of this Kingdom. It is in that context that "all things are possible." God will work with us to transform, to build, to help us in His image for us. Of ourselves, we do not do this work alone!

Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed you. Therefore what shall we have?" So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first." Peter continues in His beginning leadership role, as he speaks for all the disciples. They have indeed left all behind to follow Him, as was requested of the young ruler in yesterday's reading. The word for regeneration is a Greek word (palingenesia) that combines two things: palin -- again, and genesia -- birth. Genesia is of course related to Genesis. So, into this we can read many meanings or metaphors, but Tradition holds that Jesus is speaking of the rebirth of creation itself, the "Re-Genesis," so to speak. This inference is made clear in the references that follow -- what is in store for the disciples as judges, and all that shall be added unto them. But we can also think of this in other symbolic ways: just as Jesus has taught that great figures from the spiritual history of Israel shall sit in judgment on those who fail in their faith in the present, who should know better. There is no specific time connection here, but rather the kingdom works also to intersect our lives in this world in many dimensions. Building this impression, He adds, "But many who are first will be last, and the last first." These apostles who shall be "first" on the thrones are in some sense also the last -- in their lifetimes the Church is just a beginning of what it will become, they will not live to see the fullness of its growth. They are also the ones called upon to practice great humility -- to the point of the sacrifice of their lives. But there are so many more ways to read this statement: as a teaching on humility for all of us, and what it means to serve, even to lose one's life in order to find it. All of these things are in this teaching, including the great mystery of the kingdom's unfolding, the things we don't know and can't know -- even what its fullness really means. But above all, there is Jesus' promise.

Repeated in today's reading is the teaching that Jesus gave to the young ruler. In following this kingdom, in seeking Jesus' promise of eternal life and so much that may be added unto us, we practice a kind of humility before God that calls us forward. We don't know what we may be asked to exchange in this re-birth, renewal, re-genesis, regeneration. We just don't understand nor know where God will take us. But we remember that "with God all things are possible." We don't do it of ourselves or by ourselves. It doesn't come by our own design, but rather we "follow Him." We have grace and assistance and power and mercy to help, and to show us the way. But while all things are possible with God, all things may also be at the disposal of God. That is, in a sacramental life, we offer all that we are to God, and asked to be shown God's purposes for our lives, resources, time, talent. This is the radical humility of Christ which He teaches to His disciples. Many who are first will be last and the last first. In prayer, we practice not just asking for what we want, but also surrendering ourselves to this relationship that will teach us what we truly have and what we need. It will also take us to regeneration, rebirth, in so many ways. It is a mystery that invites us in, to go further, to "follow Him" and to find ourselves in His kingdom.