The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) pretty much summarizes the teaching of Jesus.
It begins with 3 striking thoughts:
- Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
- Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Here is one of the constant warnings the Apostle Paul always seemed to hammer home to the early churches: “Do not think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourself. Let God change you inwardly, by showing you who you really are.” Romans 12:2
Paul’s words are echoed in this line of the prayer of St. Francis: “O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand, to be loved as to love.”
Thus, “Who can I console today?” “Who can I better understand today?” “Who needs my love today more than my hate?” Humble yourself today in the sight of the Lord and count others better than yourself. That is so hard to do, but the Holy Spirit is in us. He will empower us.
And if we surrender to God’s will and live like that, we will be living exactly the way Jesus wants you to live.
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