Was this simply because of the large crowds, or was there something more?
As we continue our new journey through The 247 Catholic, let us ask a question that invites us to look at the Gospels with fresh eyes.
Why Did Jesus So Often Teach Outdoors?
When we picture Jesus teaching, where do we imagine Him?
Many of us immediately think of the Sermon on the Mount. Others picture Him sitting in a fishing boat while crowds gather along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Perhaps we remember Him speaking as He walked through fields of grain, rested beneath the shade of a tree, or travelled from village to village with His disciples.
It is striking how often the greatest Teacher who ever lived chose the natural world as His classroom.
Certainly, there were practical reasons. Large crowds could gather more easily in the open air than inside a synagogue. Yet if that were the only reason, why do His teachings contain so many references to the world around Him?
- Seeds.
- Soil.
- Vines.
- Sheep.
- Birds.
- Lilies.
- Trees.
- Rain.
- Harvests.
- Fishermen.
- The changing weather.
It is as though creation itself became one of His teaching aids.
Jesus never treated the created world as something separate from God's plan. Instead, He revealed that creation points beyond itself to its Creator.
When He looked at a mustard seed, He saw the Kingdom of God.
When He watched a farmer sowing seed, He saw the human heart receiving God's Word.
When He spoke of a shepherd searching for a lost sheep, He revealed the Father's love for every soul.
Nature became a window through which eternal truths could be seen.
This should not surprise us.
After all, the opening pages of Scripture tell us that creation itself comes from the hand of God.
"And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good."
Genesis 1:31 (ESV – CE)
The beauty of the natural world is not an accident.
It reflects something of its Creator.
As the Psalmist joyfully proclaims:
"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."
Psalm 19:1 (ESV – CE)
Jesus invites us to see what the Psalmist saw.
Creation is not merely scenery.
It is a continual reminder of God's wisdom, generosity, and providence.
Consider one of His best-known invitations:
"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them."
Matthew 6:26 (ESV – CE)
Notice the first word.
Look.
Before teaching, Jesus asks us to observe.
Faith begins with paying attention.
How often do we rush through life without really looking?
We hurry from one task to another, barely noticing the sunrise, the changing seasons, or the intricate beauty of a single flower.
Yet Jesus asks us to slow down.
To look.
To wonder.
To allow creation to draw our hearts towards its Creator.
St Francis of Assisi understood this profoundly. He saw all creation as praising God, calling the sun his brother and the moon his sister, not because he worshipped creation, but because he recognised that everything ultimately reflects the goodness of God.
Less well known is St Hildegard of Bingen, who wrote beautifully about the harmony between creation and the Creator. She believed that the natural world was filled with signs of God's life-giving presence and encouraged Christians to contemplate its beauty with grateful hearts.
Their lives remind us that the world around us is not merely something to use.
It is something through which we can glorify God.
Perhaps this also explains why Jesus so often withdrew to lonely places.
The Gospels tell us that He went up mountains to pray.
He sought solitude.
He prayed before dawn.
He spent nights in communion with His Father.
The outdoors was not simply where He taught.
It was also where He prayed.
The One who created the world often chose to pray within it.
There is another lesson here.
Many of us imagine that prayer can only happen in church.
Certainly, the church is the privileged place of worship, especially in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
Yet prayer is not confined by walls.
We can pray while walking.
We can pray in a garden.
We can pray beside the sea.
We can lift our hearts to God wherever we find ourselves.
Creation itself can become an invitation to prayer.
At the same time, Jesus never separated creation from worship.
He taught outdoors, but He also went to the synagogue.
He prayed on mountains, but He also celebrated the Passover.
He loved the beauty of the natural world, yet He directed hearts towards the worship of His heavenly Father.
For us as Catholics, this balance is important.
We thank God for the beauty of creation.
Yet we also gather around the altar, where Christ gives Himself to us in the Holy Eucharist.
Creation prepares our hearts.
The sacraments nourish our souls.
Perhaps the question is not simply why Jesus taught outdoors.
Perhaps the deeper question is this:
Have we learned to recognise God in the world around us?
Do we notice His generosity in the harvest?
His faithfulness in the changing seasons?
His creativity in the smallest flower?
His providence in the birds of the air?
His majesty beneath the night sky?
Every leaf.
Every stream.
Every sunrise.
Every star.
All quietly proclaim the glory of the One who made them.
As we continue this journey together through The 247 Catholic, may we learn not only to read the pages of Sacred Scripture more slowly, but also to read the "book" of creation with grateful and attentive hearts.
For both ultimately lead us to the same Lord.
Living This Reflection This Week
This week, let us allow creation to become a gentle reminder of God's presence.
- Spend a few quiet minutes outdoors each day, thanking God for His creation.
- Slowly read Matthew 6:25 – 34 (ESV – CE), noticing how Jesus teaches through the natural world.
- During a walk, consciously praise God for the beauty we see around us.
- Pray Psalm 19 and reflect on how creation proclaims God's glory.
- If possible, attend Holy Mass this week and thank God that the Creator of the universe comes to us in the Eucharist.
Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes
O Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes, thou who praised God with all thy heart and recognised His greatness in every blessing, help us to see the beauty of thy Son reflected in the world He created. Teach us to pause, to notice, and to give thanks for the gifts that surround us each day. Through thy loving intercession, may our hearts be lifted from the beauty of creation to the infinite beauty of its Creator. Lead us always to Jesus, who is the source of all life and all goodness. Amen.
A Prayer for All Who Read This Blog Post and for All Who Never Will
Heavenly Father, we pray for all who read this blog post and for all who never will. Open our eyes to recognise Your presence in Sacred Scripture, in the beauty of creation, and above all in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Bless those who are joyful and those who are burdened, those who seek You and those who have not yet come to know You. May every heart discover the hope, peace, and love that are found in You alone. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Final Prayer
Lord, beneath the open sky,
Teach our hearts to wonder why.
Every bird and leaf and tree,
Whispers of eternity.
May each sunrise lift our gaze,
Filling us with thankful praise.
Guide us, Lord, where'er we roam,
Until at last You call us home.
A Warm Invitation
We warmly invite everyone to join us at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, New Milton, where together we celebrate Holy Mass, receive the Sacraments, gather for parish activities, meet with our Living Rosary Group, and share in the life of our parish family.
We also encourage you to read our latest parish newsletter and discover all that is happening in our community.
As our Lord reminds us:
«"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
Matthew 18:20 (ESV – CE)»
May God bless us all as we continue to discover the hidden riches of His Word and grow together in faith.
Looking Ahead
Next Monday we shall enter our Moments of Wonder series as we quietly stand beside one of the most moving encounters in the Gospels: Jesus Looking at the Rich Young Man and Loving Him (Mark 10:21).
It is a single glance that reveals the heart of Christ and invites us to ask how He looks upon each one of us today.
Stay prayerful. Stay faithful. Stay Catholic – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
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