Blessed are those who are persecuted because of their righteousness.
The final Beatitude is one of choice, calling us to honor God and to be faithful to Him despite persecution from those who are unrighteous. I often think of the early Christians when I think of this statement. They stood by their faith, despite being persecuted and martyred. They were courageous and brave.
In today’s world, I feel much more conflicted about this Beatitude. With the rise of Christian Nationalism, it feels like the righteousness is missing. We are going after the poor, disabled, immigrants, and vulnerable. What happens if the unrighteousness comes from within the Church?
It’s a question I don’t like to ask, but one I’ve been pondering as of late. From my perspective, God would want us to help those in need, protect the vulnerable, and give back. And so, I choose love because I honor God. I make this choice, even if it means persecution, rejection, and backlash.
Of the Beatitudes, this feels the timeliest. I ask you to think about what this means for you in today’s world.
