“Because human ignorance is slow to believe what it does not see, and equally slow to hope for what it does not know, those who were to be instructed in the divine teaching had first to be aroused by bodily benefits and visible miracles so that, once they had experienced his gracious power, they would no longer doubt the wholesome effect of his doctrine.”
Up until the time of Christ, no human had ever seen face of God and survived the experience. Our history had been more focused on things of the temporal realm: Kingdoms, temples, physical health, wealth, personal safety and laws. In order to transition from outward and physical world that is the realm of the former times to the inner and spiritual world of the new times, we needed to be led from one reality to other. St. Leo suggests that God started our voyage from our old existence to the new one by first by getting our attention through miracles. Things that we could see and believe because we saw them allowed us to believe in the goodness of the incarnate God. Next, The Sermon on the Mount introduced us to a new concept: God loves each and everyone human as an individual and He wants our relationship to be based upon love. While I (as do we all) conform to laws and rules in order to live in our society, living by the rule of law leaves us bereft of the passion that makes life worth living. The law is faceless and cold; love is warm and inviting and leads to joy. Until today I did not understand that the new order was founded with the pronouncement of the Sermon on the Mount. Typically I read the second reading with an eye toward to what moves my heart. Today I found insight that deepens my understanding of the foundation of our faith. That is just fine with me.
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