“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is in the Lord. He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; in the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit…. ‘And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said…’”
We are so familiar with the Sermon on the Mount, and the beatitudes of St. Matthew. They summarize the entire message of Jesus and provide the pattern for a healthy examination of conscience.
Today we meet St. Luke’s teaching, the Sermon on the Plain. Instead of eight positive directives, we are given four, and then four warnings to help us move from now to the promised reward. How helpful for us to fix our eyes on what the Lord has in store for us, to make us less complacent, eager to ‘rejoice and leap for joy on that day!’
We know well the obstacles, barriers and challenges of the Christian life. St. Ignatius asks us to discern both the positive and negative to help us make good decisions.