Mount of Beatitudes: Just what I needed

Originally published 4/5/19

I have a confession: I had no idea the Sermon on the Mount was so long. I thought it was just the Beatitudes, that collection of pithy sayings that are supposed to make you feel good about your lot in life, eschatologically speaking. In other words, things aren't great now, but in the end days, you'll be at the front of the line. Did I just say Jesus is pithy? Back to the length of the sermon. The Sermon on the Mount looks long on paper (3 chapters in Matthew), but can be read in just over 12 minutes, which is exactly the length an Episcopal sermon is supposed to be. Did I just say Jesus was Episcopalian? Anyway... We left the Sea of Galilee and drove up the Mount of Beatitudes, just as Jesus did (except, probably not in a bus) when he began his Sermon on the Mount, which is recorded in Matthew 5, 6, and 7.

The view of Mount of Beatitudes from the Sea of Galilee. Where Jesus preached is likely close to where Shafik's hand is. Just a little ways up the hill, he spoke to people gathered below. Archaeologists and Biblical scholars have tested a particular location for acoustics, as Jesus probably did not have a loudspeaker, and have found a place where the shape of the hill lends itself to the carrying of sound. Also, the shape of the hill has changed over 2000 years, so who knows?

The Sermon on the Mount reads like an instruction book for life. After you get past the hopefulness of the Beatitudes, which are only about 10 verses, then he gets into rules and instruction, told sometimes through allegory and metaphor, and sometimes through real life examples.

As I read through it in one of the number of Bibles my Dad gave me, always with my name engraved on the front, I was interested to see that I have consulted this sermon before. And after reading the underlined verses, I remember why. And, it's interesting also to note that those are verses I need to review again, at this exact moment in my life. Funny how the Bible talks to me that way, just when I need it. Thanks, Dad. And Jesus, too.

So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Matt. 5:23-24

Reconciliation. Ugh. Theologically, it's been done for us: through the death and resurrection of his son Jesus Christ, God has forgiven humanity its sin and is in new relationship with us.

Anthropologically, it's one of the toughest things in all of Christendom. Actually, it's seems impossible. To confront someone, to tell the truth to someone, to listen to someone, to admit wrong, to apologize, to forgive, to agree to disagree. Priests talk a lot about it, preach about it and write about it, but I have yet to run into one who actually wants to do it. I have, in fact, been turned away by priests and pastors with whom I have sought reconciliation, or sought help in reconciling with another party. It's too messy. It's too awkward. It's too time-consuming. It's too political. They might get in trouble. I don't know if those are all the reasons, because some requests have been met with stone cold silence.

And yet I go to the altar and take communion from them. I'll admit disappointment in myself for allowing that to happen. The next priest who offends me, I'm not taking communion from you until we reconcile. Notice given, people.

I really hate that I just wrote that, because it means that I know it will happen again. That a person in a collar will lie, cheat, steal, insult, manipulate or otherwise act in an unChristian manner that I will become aware of. Michael says in a slight defense that "priests are people, too." Yes, they are, I agree with him. But I also wag my finger at him and remind him that priests have also promised to be loyal to the doctrine, discipline and worship of Christ and to love and serve the people among whom (they) work, caring alike for young and old, strong and weak, rich and poor. Priests, I tell Michael, have to and will be held to a different standard. By me, anyway.

True reconciliation involves a change in a relationship. It assumes there has been a breakdown in a relationship, and the state of it must change from enmity to harmony. (biblestudytools.com) Change is hard, I get that. I have changed, several times. And I am changing now. Change can be good.

All that unreconciliation leads to, of course, the next underlined portion of the Sermon on the Mount in my Bible:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matt. 5:43-48

Have you ever prayed for your enemies? I mean, prayed for their health, their well-being, their healing, success for their children, a happy marriage? That is some hard-core praying right there.

Kathryn Tiede, a beautiful Lutheran pastor, led a group of Episcopal women at a retreat I attended once. Those who needed healing prayer were invited for morning prayer, held at daybreak, even before coffee. I went because she was talking about hurt. More specifically about how to pray for those who hurt you. It was some time after I'd suffered several priestly injuries, but found I was still tasting bitterness toward them on a regular basis. Even though I hadn't had coffee, I'll never forget what Kathryn said about praying for your enemies.

She said pray for your enemies, or those who hurt you, for 30 days. Pray for their health, their success, their happiness, and their contentment. When you first start doing it, she said, it will be through gritted teeth and white knuckles. On the fifth day, you'll notice you aren't grinding your teeth any more. By the 10th day your hands will relax. On the 20th day your face will soften as you say their name. And by the 30th day your heart will warm as you pray for them.

Now, if you've read this far and you have enemies to pray for, will you try this and let me know if it works?

It's tough. I'm doing it right now. I'm still in the gritted teeth phase, and just recently asked Michael if we had to pray for our enemies at every meal. He agreed we could include them at one mealtime prayer. In addition to my morning prayers.

I'm so glad my Dad bought me that Bible, and that I've used it before, and that writing about a trip to Israel in December pointed me toward what I needed to hear today, right now.

Mmm...

If you want to know more about all of the Sermon on the Mount, amazingly, Dr. Wilton drilled it down to 10 points:

1. Do what is right according to God (follow the 10 commandments, and other basic laws)

2. Taste right (Are you sweet, or salty?)

3. Give light (Be kind)

4. Live right (Follow the Gospel)

5. Give right (As in tithe)

6. Pray right (Jesus reviews the Lord's prayer in the SotM)

7. Relax right (Do not worry about your life)

8. Ask right (Ask and it will be given unto you)

9. Choose right (Enter at the narrow gate)

10. Build right (Raise your children well)

Alright?