There is a famous sermon recorded in the book of Matthew . It was delivered by Jesus of Nazareth in the early part of his ministry. In the four books of stories about the life of Jesus, there is very little about his childhood and early adulthood. There are many events about what he did and said, but really only one sermon is recorded ( it is also in the book of Mark ). I have preached more than Jesus did.
It has been called the “ Sermon on the Mount ” because Jesus delivered it on the side of a mountain, to a group of people who had heard a little about him, and had come to hear more. He begins with a little bit of poetry, and then he speaks about changing the law that had been given to the Jewish people through Moses. Then he talks about ways that we should live, like loving our enemies and not worrying about what we should eat or drink. It is not really known if this is all what Jesus said on that day, but this is what Matthew gives to us. We do not know if Jesus spoke this sermon on a few different occasions, or that he had a few different sermons he could deliver.
The sermon, I believe, sets out Jesus’ vision for his time on earth. It is not like a vision statement for the church, but it is way of thinking about how to act and be in this world. I believe, and I might be wrong, but I think it is for this world and not the next. This sets out what the kingdom of God might be like in the smallest of ways. It is a beginning for us to what God wants us to be about while living in Elmira or Toronto or Calcutta.
In the summer, the bandshell at Gore Park in the center of Elmira is packed every Sunday evening. The people come out to hear country, gospel and bluegrass music. People set up their lawn chairs everywhere, including on the street. It is like the “ Music on the Mount “. It is about two hours long, and you have the opportunity to give a donation during the intermission.
If Jesus would get on the calendar next summer, what would you want him to say or sing ? The people would set up the microphones, and the people would begin putting their chairs down at 5:30 for a 7:00 start, like they always do. If you are agnostic or atheist , what might you want Jesus to say. Should he be critical of the church for the bad things we have done ? Should he talk about the state of the world ? Or “ if you are real, why do you not heal children from their cancers ?” .
If you are a Christian believer, what would you want to hear from Jesus ? And what request would you yell out for him to sing ? What would Jesus have to say, for you to donate more than ten dollars ? What is at the center of the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ ? Justice , grace, peace, compassion, generosity, hospitality ? What would Jesus say, if we invited him to the bandshell at Gore Park ?
Fred Redekop
Ponder Anew 