I remember watching Mastermind as a kid and Magnus Magnuson posed to a contestant the following question - 'in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gives us the beattitudes on the Mount...where does He give them in Luke'. Ther answer is, as we've just heard, that in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus talks about the 'Beattitudes' - the values of God's Kingdom - not on a mountain but on the plain, on a piece of level ground. The question becomes why is there this difference? Why in Matthew does Jesus talk about the Beattitudes on the mountain and Luke place this episode on a piece of level of ground? It's not a mistake or a misunderstanding - something deeper is going on here.

In the Scriptures, the Mountain is the place of encounter between God and humanity. It's the place where people talk to God, discern His will, receive his instruction and access His laws. The plain, the field, the level ground - that's different. That's the place where the dramas of human life experienced - its the place of labor, the place of the family, the home and the hearth. The mountain - that's the place of God, the place of the Holy, the place of the Divine, the place of the extraordinary and the other. The plain, the level ground - that's for ordinary and uncomplicated, daily life.

By having Jesus give the 'Beatitudes' on the level ground, St. Luke is saying something important, something vital. God's presence in our lives isn't reserved for special days, special moments, special times or special circumstances. His life, his presence, his values must break into our daily living. We can't put God in a box which we occasionally open for baptisms or communions or weddings or funerals. His presence, His values must permeate our daily lives. 

But how do we let this happen? How do we let God into every aspect and area of our lives? The answer is simple - prayer. Prayer gives God a space and a place in our daily lives. Prayer reminds us, in the most beautiful way, of the His presence in our daily lives. ]

No -matter how busy you are? No matter how frantic things become - make the time for prayer. Pray as an individual - in the silence of our heart, pray as a couple, pray as a family. Then, and only then, does God move from the mountain into the here and now of our daily lives - only then does He arrive at the 'level ground' of our lives. 

How do we pray? When do we pray? How committed are we to a life of prayer? Perhaps as we journey on in faith this week, these are questions we might ponder. 


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