Oil on Belgium Linen, 34″ x 34″

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of an needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  The literal vision of a camel train entering the eye of the needle, the iconic golden halo symbolizing his saintliness contradicting his menacing image. He sees but does not see with his eye, a cataract in one and patch on another asks for faith in fables, in stories, in imagery.

The Eye of Needle, the narrowest entrance into Jerusalem.  Merchants must unpack each camels load and pull them throw the entrance, just as a rich man full of knowledge, full of information, full of knowing must drop all the baggage, all the knowing, all the load to enter.  He sees without seeing, he knows without fable as the kingdom of heaven is within him.

Artist: Patti Penn