It’s Sunday and we are visiting the Mount of Beatitudes. I remember memorizing the Beatitudes as a form of prayer when I was a kid. Until today, my basis of being a good person and eventually entering the Kingdom of God is the Beatitudes. So it excites me to step foot on the place believed to where Jesus preached the Beatitudes.
Mount of Beatitudes is located in a hill between Capernaum and Tabgha (I will have a separate post about the two) overlooking the Sea of Galilee and the plain of Gennesaret (note that Galilee and Gennesaret or Kinneret are one and the same). Though its not specifically mentioned in the bible that the present location of Mount of Beatitudes is the exact location where Jesus made the Sermon, it’s a good choice because it’s a spacious hillside which provides much room for crowds to gather, according to experts.
On top of the hill is a Roman Catholic church built in 1939. It’s a beautiful church with various symbolisms about the Sermon on the Mount. All around the hill are beautiful gardens with small kiosks for masses and readings. There is also a monastery and a dormitory here.
I was lucky that I was able to attend mass here – the first and the only mass I had in this trip.
What the Bible Say
Matthew 5:1-12
5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
MY PERSONAL REFLECTION AT MT BEATITUDES
The Beatitudes teaches us to be humble because in being humble, we are blessed. The Beatitudes teaches us to remain steadfast to His love and His mercy because He loves us. The Beatitudes teaches us to be good disciples of Jesus because by doing so, we will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
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Dominic Rielo Amayun 