Situated on a prominent hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee with the Golan Heights in the background, the Mount of Beatitudes in its quiet simplicity, as the Sermon on the Mount suggests, draws the curious into its embrace. The sense of creativity, safety and soberness is felt as one steps onto the stone pathway. These pathways are lined with the various Beatitudes. One can meditate on the verses as they walk toward the large, graceful marble and stone church designed by Antonio Barluzzi in 1938. Sound travels easily from roads below revealing that Jesus’ words on this mount could have carried to crowds of thousands.
Walking on the dirt path outside the gated compound that encompasses the colorful, manicured gardens surrounding a stone church that was built here with love on the top of the Mount of Beatitudes, one yearns to go beyond the crowds and the noise, wanting more than just religious words. A spiritual hunger is stirred for a deeper encounter with the Lord.
Looking down at the Sea of Galilee and the beauty of the sapphire-colored water alongside the rolling hills of the Golan Heights, the view is breathtaking. Imagining years ago the crowds that gathered from the local villages to this mountainside to hear the words of a man called Jesus, a man whom they had heard or seen perform miracles and speak of another Kingdom. Certainly, they went with hope in their hearts that somehow this man would have the answers to their physical and emotional pain. Little did they know what they would hear Him speak would be in direct contrast with any teachings they had ever heard before.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Or, “Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted.” Tension arises in the heart when hearing these difficult words: “Blessed are you when you are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.” The curious words that say that one would suffer if they lived the way He spoke.
These statements are words that clearly conflict with how life is lived today. It is the difference between an earthly, temporal kingdom versus a heavenly and eternal Kingdom. While walking further onto the sloping hills, feeling the gentle warmth of the sun, there’s a sense of calm. A dedicated place such as the Mount of Beatitudes marks the very values of Christian faith and how life is to be lived by His Spirit. The question still arises, “Are the Beatitudes relevant today?” They are clearly counter-cultural. In reality, they are the very foundation stones of our Christian life.
The sound of turtle doves in the branches of ancient trees, a verse comes to mind from the Song of Solomon, “…Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along. For behold the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers have already appeared in the land …and the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land” (Song of Solomon 2:10-12). This site begins the journey into a new season, just as when the spring comes and fresh hope arises.
Pondering faith, we are hopeful because of Jesus’ words here at the Mount of Beatitudes. They are the assurance that when we believe in Him and His teachings – what the world considers as simple and unimportant – are the steps to truly understanding what it means to be a Child of God, with the promise of eternity with Him in His love.