Israel - Reflection #11 - Mount of Beatitudes

Our tour guide, Rami, provided such a wealth of information and history of the sites we visited. He was such a great leader. Dr. Joseph and Dr. Levichiva also provided such a great spiritual framework for everything we saw. This certainly was true for our visit to the Mount of Beatitudes.

There is a little debate about exactly where this sermon took place. But it is generally accepted that it was near here and the Franciscans built this church and convent, not to mark a specific place, but to commemorate the wonderful words spoken by Jesus. 

This teaching from Matthew 5-7 or Luke 6, was radical. Even today, it is still pretty radical. Jesus was promoting a NEW way to live. At this time, in the Jewish culture, they had 613 laws they must observe. I cannot even imagine this. For thousands of years, since the time of Moses, we have tried to write down on paper what it means to be a child of God. We have tried to codify, make it easier, to know right from wrong. When we try to do this, it always gets more complicated.

Jesus was revolutionary, he brought a new simpler way of living. He taught living in a way that is completely counter-cultural.

Below is the opening of this wonderful Sermon:

' “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole
earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will
be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called
the children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the
Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and
lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because
you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a
great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient
prophets were persecuted in the same way. 'Matthew 5:3-12https://my.bible.com/bible/116/MAT.5.3-12

Rami told us we could translate "God blesses" as "I should envy you....."

Go back and read each of these verses with those words inserted into the scripture. 

Isn't it radical to think we should envy the poor, or those who mourn, or those who are humble?

Jesus wants us to look at life differently. 

One of my favorite bible passages comes from this wonderful discourse, Matthew 5:14-16

' “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that
cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a
basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives
light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good
deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your
heavenly Father. ' Matthew 5:14-16
https://my.bible.com/bible/116/MAT.5.14-16

We are supposed to live differently. We are supposed to be the light on the hill. We are supposed to

live radically for Jesus. Our definition of GOOD should be different than the world's definition of Good.

I could not help but think about these specific verses as I looked out from the Mount of Beatitudes

gazing on Tiberias, the city on a hill. Praise God for his message to us!

A wonderful painting inside the Church of Beatitudes

Franciscan Church of the Beatitudes

I just love the flowering trees that surrounded this church.

One of the possible sites of the sermon on the mount. This area was deemed acoustically perfect to

speak to the thousands present on that day.