World Youth Day USA Guides Retreat Manual | Page 6

World Youth Day USA Retreat Manual:
Meeting Jesus on the Road to World Youth Day
An Introduction
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be

Apostles on a mountain in the Gospels of Mark

shown mercy.” (Mt 5:7) This short and simple

and Luke. Jesus’ final agony in the Garden

sentence is one of the eight Beatitudes, the

takes place on the Mount of Olives, and he is

introductory teaching of Jesus during the

crucified atop Mount Calvary. Matthew’s

Sermon on the Mount. Through the Beatitudes,

Gospel uses mountain imagery nine times:

Jesus was revealing himself and showing the
way for every disciple. Jesus also used these

1.

Jesus’ third temptation on a mountain
in the wilderness (Mt 4:8-11)

words to provide hope to the suffering and
struggling people he encountered. This, too, is

2.

the theme of the 2016 World Youth Day,

Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount
(Mt 5:1-7:29)

chosen by Pope Francis to illuminate the face
3.

of the Lord and provide hope to youth and

Many healings and the feeding of 4,000
atop a mountain (Mt 15:29-39)

young adults who may suffer and struggle, as
4.

well as seek purpose, direction, and an

The Transfiguration of Christ on
Mount Tabor (Mt 17:1-9)

encounter with God.
5.

Jesus pauses at Bethpage on the Mount

It is not coincidence that Jesus chose to speak

of Olives prior to entering Jerusalem

these words of hope from a mountaintop.

(Mt 21:1)

In Sacred Scripture, important events happen
6.

and great words are often said on a

Jesus’ final discourse on the Mount of
Olives (Mt 24:3-25:46)

mountain. In fact, mountains and hills are
7.

mentioned over 500 times in the Bible. Moses

Jesus prays in the Garden of

received the Ten Commandments on Mount

Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives

Sinai/Horeb. Mount Zion, the city of David

(Mt 26:36-56)

and Solomon and capital of Judea, is the

8.

location of the great Jerusalem Temple. Elijah

The Crucifixion of Christ on Golgotha
(Mt 27:33-56)

heard the “still small voice” of God on Mount
9.

Sinai/Horeb. Jesus appoints the Twelve

Jesus gives the Great Commission on a
mountain in Galilee (Mt 28:16-20)

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