Jesus Preaches to Us

            The group is staying at Pilgerhaus Tagbha in Galilee.  Today we visited the Mount of Beatitudes.  This is the place near Lake Gennesaret, also called the Sea of Galilee.  Here Jesus gave a long sermon which expresses the principles values one needs to cultivate in order to be a follower of Christ.  From the sermon we heard, three major themes are clearly expressed; The Beatitudes, the ethical admonitions, and the authority of Jesus’ teaching.

            Jesus gave the Sermon to the crowds two thousand years ago and he is giving the same sermon to us today.  The principle values he laid down for his followers are ever new and relevant to people of every generation.  We had enough time to read the sermon (Matthew 5:1 – 7:29), and the homilist made the point that the Word of God never expires.  The Word surpasses time and space.  In the Sermon, Jesus was not making impossible demands to his followers; he wants us to take his words seriously.  The fact that the principles are difficult does not mean that they are impossible.  In fact, Christ never promised us an easy life, rather he said, “Anyone who wants to be my follower must deny himself, take his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:25)

            So we are blessed to be at this place and hear the Sermon which is being preached to us.  Christ is talking to us as his followers through the Scriptures and in our celebration of Holy Mass.  Christ has laid down the principle values for us.  Let us embrace them, live them, and follow him.