Teacher, Teacher

(Gospel) "He began to teach them..." 

Two things about the Sermon on the Mount jump out at anyone who's used to teaching elementary school.

1) Jesus sits down. That breaks ALL the rules. You can't sit down. You have to walk around. Hold your students' attention. Keep them engaged. Keep the peace. Maybe even mount a preemptive strike before they can start throwing paper airplanes at each other... 

Jesus sits down, because He knows that we need to hear what he has to say so badly that he can count on our attention to the end.

2) Jesus began to teach. At any normal school, the teacher's job ends when school is out. 

Knowing the Beatitudes is one thing. Living them is another. That's when Jesus can truly teach us and help us grow: when we try turn his teachings into real life.