When Jesus started talking about a "new civilization", a lot of people were understandably excited: they knew life could be better. Could life be more than keeping strict religious rules and traditions?

Jesus inaugurates a "constitution" by announcing a compelling purpose for this new world. Then, his first amendment lays out the requirements for citizenship. But rather than making it easier to get in, he makes it seem impossibly out of reach for any of us. And somehow, this is good news.