I remember my first day at college. When I moved into the dorm, I had such a pit in my stomach because I realized that I was on my own – really on my own – like never before. I was a mere 17 years old as a Freshman. (I’m a November baby) All my friends went to the bar that first night, but I got turned away. (The legal drinking age was 18 at that time, but…yah…I was 17.) The system of college classes was daunting to me and making new friends has never been a strong suit of mine. Add in some classic roommate problems, and you can say that my Freshman year was not the favorite time of my life. But, there is no denying that I learned a lot that year. And I’m not talking about my classes. While I thought I was mature (what 17 year doesn’t?!) when I came home in the spring, I was definitely a different person. I’m not going to say I was entirely a good person then, but I had grown up to the world quite a bit. Some of the lessons I learned, I still draw on today. I try to keep that experience in mind whenever I am dealing with someone who is struggling with a particular issue. So often they think they have the answers, but I realize that they are just a Freshman and have so much to learn. I have to be gentle when I try and point out various options they may have. They will get there eventually, but there are lots of tough lessons that have to be learned along the way. I think that's part of what Jesus was doing when he preached the Sermon on the Mount. In today’s Gospel, we hear the beginning of that sermon with The Beatitudes. One theologian said that Jesus preached this sermon as the beginning of the initiation of, not only the people hearing it, but especially for his disciples. They were just “Freshman” in the ways of Jesus and were not entirely ready to hear about the cross that was to come. So Jesus eases into the truth of what it means to be a follower of God by starting soft. Not easy, but gentle. "How blessed are the poor in spirit, the reign of heaven is theirs.” (Mt 5:3) Did you ever notice that Jesus did not say, the reign of heaven WILL be yours? No, he said it IS as in, now. But I must have a “poor spirit” to be able to participate in that reign here and now. So what does that mean? Do I have to live below the poverty level to qualify? Do I have to ride a bus everywhere because I cannot afford a car? Do I have to be homeless? No; something even harder. To be “poor in spirit”, I have to give up my ego and pride. "“Poor in spirit” means giving up my own righteousness”, says Richard Rohr. Woof. Now there's a task! Sometimes I think it would be easier for me to give all my possessions than it would be to get past my ego and pride. But as I read the Gospels and learn what Jesus wants me to know, I see that being “poor in spirit” is truly the first step. In so many ways, I think I’m still a Freshman in the ways of God. But if I can learn to let go of my self-image, then I can let the image of Jesus flow thru me and be seen by others. And that is what I want to do more than anything else. I know I have a long way to go, but that's my journey. Every day.