A sermon is a Christian preaching with teachings.
Sermon is a concept in our language that comes from the Latin word sermo . According to the first meaning of the term mentioned by the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ), a sermon is a preaching given by a Christian clergyman to teach something to the faithful.
When a priest delivers a sermon, therefore, he intends to provide a teaching linked to religious doctrine. In ancient times, sermons were shared in Latin although, over time , they began to develop in other languages.
The sermon as a challenge or recommendation
However, the concept of a sermon is also used colloquially to refer to the speeches, challenges or recommendations that someone receives when they do not do what is expected of them from an adult or someone who has some type of authority over them. We could say that it is a scolding or a reprimand .
Some phrases in which we can find the concept can be: "Enough, dad, I'm too old for your sermons," "Now get ready: we will have to listen to the teacher's sermon about why we shouldn't play soccer in the classroom." , "The boss gave me a lecture because I was late for the meeting."
The sermon, in this sense, is equated to a challenge and is usually given by an authority (a parent or guardian, a teacher, a boss). Suppose that a teenager, instead of entering school at the starting time, decides to stay walking or doing anything, thus disobeying his parents' rules. When they discover what you have done, they will probably give you a sermon that revolves around the importance of being responsible and fulfilling our obligations; At the same time, they may stop at warning you about the dangers of being on the street without any adults you know knowing where you are.
Jesus used to give sermons.
A Christian teaching
According to Christian tradition , Jesus Christ himself delivered sermons. One of the best-known sermons Jesus delivered is the Sermon on the Mount , also known as the Sermon on the Mount , because it was delivered on the side of a hill on the road to Capernaum . This homily is found in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew .
In the Catholic religion , the Sermon on the Mount brings together the golden rules of Christian behavior; Everything that is said in that homily could be considered the main disciplines to follow for those who wish to follow the path of Christ . Even many other religions, such as Buddhism , took the fundamental bases of this sermon to establish the pillars of their beliefs.
Among the teachings that Jesus dictated that afternoon to his disciples and to the large audience that gathered to listen to him, the Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer stand out.
The Beatitudes are a type of literary genre very present in the Bible , with thousands of examples, which are constructed as a congratulatory sentence towards those people who, by acting in a certain way, get closer to the right path; The end of each beatitude is the promise of something they will receive in return at the hand of God for their blameless conduct.
In the case of the Sermon on the Mount , the Beatitudes consist of a series of teachings on spirituality, humility and compassion towards others based on peaceful behavior. Poor, meek, merciful , pure of heart, are some of those who benefit from the kingdom of heaven and divine providence. This sermon concludes with the Lord's Prayer; a prayer to talk with God from humility and request his forgiveness and divine protection.