G K Chesterton

G K Chesterton
Originally uploaded by raymaclean

My favorite book at Christmas time is Advent and Christmas, Wisdom from G. K. Chesterton. published by Ligouri Press.

Today's reflection is:

The Camel and the Needle

I know that the most modern manufacture has been
really occupied in trying to produce and abnormally large needle. I know that
the most recent biologists have been chiefly anxious to discover a very small
camel. But is we diminish the camel to his smallest, or open the eye of the
needle to its largest--if, in short we assume the words of Christ to have ment
the very least that they could mean, His words must at the vers least mean
this--that rich men are not very likely to be morally trustworthy--There is one
thing that Christ and all the Christian saints have said with a sory of savage
monotony. They have said simly that to be rich is to be in peculiar danber of
moral wreck.

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD

Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of Go!" And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 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." They were greatly astounded and said to one nother, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus look at them and said, "for
mortals it is impossible, not for God; for god all things are
possible."

Mark 10:23-27

Prayer

Jesus, you spoke hard words about the rich yourn ruler. We
confess that we are too much like him; together we form a camel train grudging
toward the tiniest needle, its speck of an eye. How can we hope to pass
through into the kidom of God? We rely on oyou, god for the Impossible,
and not ourselves. Make us into what you would have us be.

Advent Action

Once when she was asked how much money a person should give away,
Mother Teresa answered that we should give until it hurts--and then give some
more. You can imagine what a camel would feel like trying to squeeze
through the eye of the needle. Perhaps our giving should create
commensurate pain. Take a moment and think about the charitable giving
that you have done this year. What more can you give away even after it
hurts you?

~~~^j^~~~

Enough said!

Thanks be to God!!