Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness…

On numerous occasions, we have heard stories about Christians who have been persecuted for being witnesses to God’s love. Today, through all kind of social media we hear of Christians’ sufferings for defending their faith, the Church, Christian values, or for working for peace on earth.

The eighth Beatitude speaks precisely about this: that all those who in their lives are persecuted for living up to the truth, will be blessed for being righteous. It is a reality that keeps happening around us, that Christians are persecuted and face different sufferings for being faithful to the truth. Jesus knows this kind of suffering will continue to take place till the very end of time, but He also knows that through the love and unity of the Holy Trinity, these same people who experience these sufferings… will be blessed.

Do you recall any episode in your life when you have been persecuted because of your faith? What was your experience of it? Or maybe, have you never been persecuted, because you have never been a real witness to your faith? Does this make you wonder if you are truly living up to your faith?

…for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The blessing that Jesus preached in this Beatitude is that people who face persecution and suffering for their faith… will receive the kingdom of heaven as their own. This is the reward for these people… for all those who suffer persecution… they will receive the eternal reward of the kingdom of heaven.

Being blessed by receiving the kingdom of heaven is possible whenever the faith of the individual penetrates the mystery of being persecuted, that is, whenever one finds his hope in the faith in God. Through the strong faith in God, one suffers persecution with joy… knowing that his reward is the kingdom of God (sourced from the ‘Dictionary of Biblical Theology’).

Oh, how much I really want to receive the kingdom of heaven! The truth is that this opportunity is there for all… for me, for you, for all people who have a deep faith in God… our loving Father.

(This reflection is taken from my book ‘The Beatitudes… the blessings from the Sermon on the Mount’)

(To view the video for this reflection, kindly follow this link:

https://youtu.be/6O-9zfP9lDc )