The Way To Wisdom

It has been said for a long time that the writer of Matthew’s Gospel wanted his readers to view Jesus as the new Moses, and perhaps the most striking illustration of Matthew’s desire to link the two men is the telling of the mountain-teaching experience we have labeled the Sermon On The Mount. Begin at the fifth chapter of Matthew’s writing and read on until you come to the end of chapter 7 and you will have read a wonderful summary of the mind and heart of Jesus. Coincidence that Moses is on the mountain receiving the wisdom of God and Jesus is on the mountain dispensing the wisdom of God? No, Matthew wants us to make the connection between the two occasions. So why and what does it mean to link the two mountain moments? As Moses is the voice of God for a tribal people, so Jesus is the voice of God for the world. Huge crowds forced Jesus to go up the mountain and there he outlined the way life should be lived. Every person of faith should read these three chapters every day. Let your time of meditation, reflection, that quiet moment be spent soaking in the creative wisdom that Jesus brings to the world.

Just as Jesus gives the world some very practical guidelines in the Sermon On The Mount, ways to live a deep spiritual life, other voices of the ages join his in giving the world sacred wisdom. Two examples that address the spiritual life and the practicalities of living in shaky times: “The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.” The second: a one line commentary on an ancient concept that offers very practical wisdom for life: Amor fati (love of life) “is an ancient concept meaning accepting what happens in life and finding meaning in it.” This is not resignation or giving up. This is looking at realities you can’t change and finding a meaning, a direction, in them. The Sermon On The Mount is our roadmap to living a deeply spiritual life and other voices over the ages offer us additional insight and meaning. There is joy, peace and comfort in this world and you will find it when you go into His presence, when you climb that mountain and sit as his feet. May the peace and purpose of Christ fill you this day.