last week, i was in galilee on the mount of the beatudes with 30 priests from boston on a retreat. there we prayed and listen to the very gospel that was read for us here this morning. the sermon on the mount is a description of the life of people gathered by and around the lord. often in the gospels we can see the contrast between the crowd and the community. the crowd is made up of self-absorbed individuals, each one focused on his or her own interests in competition with the conflicting projects of others. a community is where people come to value each other, to find their own identity in being part of something bigger than themselves, working together for the common good. the circle mon on the mount in many ways is the constitution of the people called to live a new life. jesus gives us a new way it deal with offenses, by reconciliation. jesus gives us a new way to deal with violence by non-violence. he gives use new way to deal with money by sharing and providing for those in need. jesus bys us a new way of dealing with leadership by drawing upon the gifts of every person, eac