In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gives his most famous sermon—on top of a mountain. For Matthew depicts Jesus like Moses who atop Mt. Sinai received the Law of the Old Covenant from God. Matthew tells us that Jesus gave this sermon to those who already had come to believe in him, a group of Jewish disciples. This sermon would detail how Christians were to conduct themselves as members of the Church—the New Israel. So Matthew depicts Jesus as the New Moses delivering the New Law to the New Israel.
In Luke, as we heard today, Jesus gives his first major sermon, not from the top of a mountain. In fact, St. Luke tells us that Jesus came down from the mountain, after a night of prayer, already having named his 12 apostles, and begins to teach a large crowd on a stretch of level ground, what is called, his Sermon on the Plain. Here Luke emphasizes that the Lord’s teachings are meant for all—not just those on top of the mountain, but all peoples, of all times, of all places are called to learn from Him and believe in Him.
He comes down the mountain into the lives of ordinary people. What a beautiful detail. For the Lord gives us here an example to follow. Our preaching is not meant just for inside the Church at Mass. That’s important of course. Good preaching at Mass from the ordained needs to shape and form and guide the people of God. But the Word of God, the Gospel, needs to be carried out into the world, down the mountain, on the same level as the ordinary folk.
Bishop Perez used to always say, we need to meet people where they are with the truth of the Gospel to invite them into the life of Christ. We meet people where they are, like Jesus, coming down from the mountain onto the plain. We need to share with them the truth of the Gospel. That doesn’t mean watering down or changing the Gospel, but it does mean using concepts they’ll understand, with attentiveness to the concrete details of their life, their struggles, challenges, worries, and hopes. And we need to invite them into the life of Christ. Yes we meet them where they are, but we are tasked with inviting them into something new—to conversion of mind, and heart, belief in Christ, and participation in the life of the Church.
And that’s not something, of course, that only the ordained or tasked with. The ordained are tasked with preaching at Mass. But the entire Church needs to be that presence of Christ out in the world, sharing the Gospel with unbelieving friends, neighbors, and strangers.
Today’s saint, Peter Claver, was a young Jesuit, who left his native spain, to live among the slaves of the new world. He cared for them, brought them medicine, food, bread, and other items that would help them survive in this new land, and of course, the Good news of the Gospel. He became a slave among the slaves. Sharing the Gospel in the world always means humbling ourselves, coming down and meeting people where they are, with the truth of the Gospel.
May we be faithful to this task today and all days, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That all Christians may be diligent in bringing the truth of the Gospel into every sphere of society, and for all those who harden their hearts toward God, for those who have left the Church, for all those in serious sin, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.
For our young people on their first day of school today, that they may be blessed with openness to the goodness and truth of the Gospel, for harmony in their classrooms despite this year's many challenges, and for peace in their families.
For an end to slavery, human trafficking, and all forms of inhumane oppression, for the protection and respect of human life.
For those whose lives are marked by suffering, illness, or grief, that they may find hope in the promises of Christ.
For the repose of the souls of the dead, for all of the souls of purgatory, and for N. for whom this mass is offered.
Heavenly Father, hear the prayers of your pilgrimage Church, grant us what we truly need to remain faithful to your Son in all things. Through Christ Our Lord.
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