This last Beatitude is the hardest for me to wrap my head around.  It is not really a “Happy” statement or a characteristic for us as followers of Jesus to strive for as the other beatitudes.  I read this more as a statement of fact with a blessing attached…

“Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires;
    the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!”

I think my struggle here is the idea of persecution I have is of those who have been imprisoned, tortured or even killed for their belief.  I have never faced that depth of torment because of my faith but I have been ridiculed, excluded, and discriminated against because of it.  In choosing to become a follower of Jesus, we are choosing a different way of life.  It is walking a path that is different from others and one that will have challenges and at times lead to hardship and persecution. 

Those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake are those who are living out God’s ways in the midst of a world that does not respect and will even reject them. Having the root meaning of “pursued,” being persecuted can take violent and extreme forms as well as subtler ones such as ridicule, dismissiveness, marginalization, and exclusion.

Jesus never promised an easy life for his followers.  In fact, in John 16:33 he said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  I hold tight to those words of promise…when life tries to get the best of me; when circumstances don’t go the way I planned; when I face harassment or maltreatment or discrimination because I choose Jesus.  I am not alone. Jesus goes with me and before me.  I am blessed.  This Beatitude is a promise of blessing for those who suffer for doing the right thing. 

The Beatitudes call us to change our posture, center our gaze beyond ourselves, and focus on our relationship with Jesus and others.  They are truly a way of living for those who choose to follow the Way of Jesus instead of the way of the world.  They are not easy but worth the end result. 

Blessings,
Pastor Jenni

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”