EYE OF THE NEEDLE

It really looks like the actual eye of a needle and for what it is worth, the principle is the same. When threading a needle, people have to squint because it is not quite easy to see though the tiny opening. Just like it is not easy to get thread through the needle's eye, it is not easy to walk through the concrete needle's eye. The principle behind the ‘eye of the needle’ is that of making personal sacrifices in order to become a better person. Borrowing from the 'Sermons on the Mount',  the whole idea was about making the ultimate sacrifice for one to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. A young man came to Jesus Christ and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?” Jesus said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth”. “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” MATTHEW 19: 15-20.

 

The ‘eye of the needle’ was a small gate in a city wall that was used by travelers who arrived late, after the main entrance to the city had been shut. If a traveler was a trader and he came with his camel burdened with goods, it was practically impossible for the camel to pass through the extremely narrow passage without offloading all the merchandise. Then, the camel would enter after which packing needed to be done again. It was very tedious and needed much patience. Hence Jesus’ point was it was much easier to make that sacrifice of time and energy than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

This is the concept behind the tunnel called ‘eye of the needle’ in the eleven rock hewn churches of Lalibela. This particular tunnel is in the second cluster of churches that are collectively known as the New Jerusalem. It connects Biete Emmanuel with the Beite Abba Libanos, which it towards the exit of the churches.