There were disciples and there was a crowd
Matthew 5:1 We read that Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down.
At the beginning of Jesus' ministry, think about your beginnings in Catholic Social Teaching and ministry. Reflect on the beginnings of those you follow and admire, both historically and present today. What were and are those beginning days about? How did you feel about what happened? Reflect on the good and the not-so-good experiences. Lessons learned.
If you were a teacher, do you remember that first day of teaching? What was happening in your mind and gut, and how did the day end?
The Sermon on the Mount is the basis for Catholic Social Teachings and the basis of the Cardijn movements globally. It is what makes Gaudium et Spes so powerful.
What insights do we get from the Sermon on the Mount about how Jesus might have felt about his first big-day teaching.?
It was common in Jesus' day for teachers and rabbis to teach sitting down. They reclined when they ate and sat to learn. Today, our teaching is often done standing up. Keynote speakers stand at a podium or wander the stage, but rarely see them sitting. Culture plays a role here.
In almost all translations, the story hints at two different references to those in attendance—crowds and disciples. We often think of Jesus' disciples as the 12 men (again, this is culture coming into play) think of apostles and disciples. History tells us that disciples followed Jesus around; think of a Taylor Swift concert where fans followed her from city to city. We read about the 12, often referred to as apostles. Now think about the situation in time. Historians estimate Jesus had from time to time roughly 165 disciples and think of the 12 apostles as team leads for those disciples. Jesus' inner circle and close advisors, including the Marys. These are the ones he spent the most time with, but here, Matthew refers to the entire crowd as disciples of Jesus. After all, it was the beginning of the ministry. What does it mean to be a disciple, and how does that make calling the crowd his "disciples" fitting? Or was it more about wishful thinking? Or just everyday exuberance about what was happening and what was to come?
Reflect on Joseph Cardijn and his advisors, inner circle, apostles, and disciples. Now, think about who the crowd is.
In our work of Christian Social Teaching, Reflect on your life experiences. Who are your advisors, inner circle, apostles, and disciples? Now, think about who the crowd is in the work you do.
I suggest you immerse yourself in the learning mode of Jesus's time. Sit down and read the Sermon on the Mount out loud. Remember, in the time of Jesus and his early followers, they HEAR THE WORD. It will take you only a little while to finish. See what difference hearing makes as opposed to reading. More than likely, Joseph Cardijn spoke more than he wrote. You and I often talk more than we write. As students and learners, some of our best learning moments are when we hear the word.
When you read the Sermon on the Mount out loud, try this: Replace the word "blessed" with the word "congratulations." In early translations, the word being used or "blessed" in Greek and Aramaic are words often used to congratulate someone. In Jesus's time, congratulations were only meant for the rich, the powerful, the rulers, the high, and the mighty. (Think about who we congratulate in our culture and why?)
Now think about who the world, including the church, says is to be congratulated. How did Joseph Cardijn and his disciples sense and experience what "congratulations" or "blessed" means and feels like?
Now think about what the world counts as "blessings" in life for which one would be congratulated. Please think of the work we do, the ministry we do, and the teaching we do.
Revisit those beatitudes, the core of Jesus' teachings, and consider them in the context of Joseph Cardijn and our work. Why does Jesus' list of blessings stand in stark contrast to the values the world celebrates? Does this contradiction align with our mission to bring about the kingdom of heaven here and now? (remember the Kingdon of heaven is a process, not a destination)
Lastly, consider the beatitude "Blessed~'Congratulations' to those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
Why should the reality of this world's broken state, with its injustices and suffering, stir the hearts of God's people?
Reflecting on this ignites a sense of urgency and a deep commitment to our mission.
Now, reflect upon the difference between disciples and the crowd. Who was Jesus talking to?
*Photo of the Mount today.