PENANCE: Public and Private
On And On The Sermon On The Mount
I probably knew this as a kid, but was surprised to re-learn that the Sermon On The Mount in the Gospel According to St. Matthew is much longer than just the Beatitudes.
It is three chapters long: Chapters five, six and seven.
Remember the part (in Chapter 7) about some will say “Lord, Lord” but don’t do the will of God – a big problem. Not such a happy feel-good part as the Blesseds. He was still giving his sermon on the mount then.
Many people say the begats, listing all those names, is difficult to get through. Yet the Sermon on the Mount is much longer than that.
I looked in a Red Letter KJV and except for 5: 1,2 and 7:28,29 everything is in red – in red of course is what Jesus said. [This is similar to how our Lectionary is, where there may be introductory words then Scripture.]
So, next time you read the Beatitudes in Matthew, why not go on and on through Chapter six and seven a re-familiarize yourself past those standards for discernment in Chapter five?
Recommended Stories
About the Author
Catherine is a lay oblate of St. Benedict for St. Procopius Abbey, Lisle IL. She is a member of St. Margaret Mary of Alacoque Parish. She is educated in Humanities, as well as, Credit and Financial Analysis.
