"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew, 5:10).
The first and the last of the beatitudes promise the kingdom of heaven and that too indicating the reward starting to be bestowed already now in this world. This shows how the Kingdom of God (heaven) is planted and nurtured in us even now to be gradually developed and enjoyed hereafter in the life to come in full measure. For the blessings of the other 6 beatitudes, we have to patiently wait till they are accomplished in the new heavens and the new earth (Revelations, 21:1). St. Augustine considered the first and the last beatitudes as really one because of the similarity of the reward of the kingdom of heaven. However, they cannot be identified as one because of the first parts in each of them: poverty in spirit for the first and persecution because of righteousness in the last. We have already seen the explanations for "poverty in spirit" and " righteousness because of persecutions" in our previous posts.
Jesus challenges in the Beatitudes our concept of blessedness consisting of bodily health and material wealth. He reverses the present world-order that heavily depends on our perception of well-being based on matter, body, senses etc. in favor of our real well-being based on the spirit, soul and the mind consisting of our intellect and will power. Jesus initiated the proclamation of his Gospel with this idea in mind by saying: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is now close at hand" (Matthew, 4:17). The early martyrs who suffered persecutions and death for Christ and the present persecutions of Christians in certain parts of the world are counted as blessings in this spiritual sense. Let us hasten to add here that our spiritual self is the deepest truth in us and not merely something peripheral and ornamental. If only persecutions, seizure of possessions, torture and death are taken as means to become like Christ along with righteousness, love, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, they are a blessing! If our world-view and life are governed by greed for material possessions as well as bodily indulgences to the point of neglecting our spiritual well-being, persecutions etc. are a complete disaster for us. However, how to live in the world of matter acquiring wealth and living a happy life etc. is to be learnt from the first Beatitude that is about poverty in spirit.
Why is the Kingdom of Heaven inevitably persecuted by the kingdoms of the world? It is due to the gulf between matter and spirit, body and soul, the earthly and the heavenly. Paul says in Galatians 4:29 that he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. In John 15:18-21 Jesus spoke about the inevitability of persecution for those who really grasp the meaning of the Kingdom of Heaven, its nature and powers and live accordingly.
Persecutions need not necessarily originate from the enemies of Christianity or from those who are ignorant of Jesus Christ. It may co-exist with so-called belief in Christ where brother may betray brother and so-called disciples of Jesus Christ may try to pull down other disciples out of jealousy etc. In this context, we may recall the homily by Pope Francis on the 19th of November 2014 at Casa Santa Marta where he mentioned about a sort of 'comfortable spirituality' that is actually a state of sin. The Pope's reference was to chapter 3 of Revelations dealing with the lukewarm Church of Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22). Thus there are various degrees of persecutions even within the Church of Christ because of a distorted view of discipleship in such persecutors (See next post:: 'Genuine Disciples of Jesus Christ'). Paul himself advised Timothy, his assistant and a true disciple of Christ, that all who desire to live a holy life united in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Timothy, 3:12) Persecution of any type from anyone is a golden opportunity to bear witness to Jesus Christ and we will be given a wisdom our enemies are unable to contradict (Luke, 21: 12-19).
So, how should we face persecutions? It is an opportunity for the true disciples of Jesus to grow in love, joy and peace. Let us remember that these three are the first fruits of the Holy Spirit out of the nine mentioned by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23. Heaven is nothing but true love, joy and peace all of which experienced now will be completed in our life to come. Suffering persecutions willingly for the sake of Jesus Christ is a sign that our faith is real and deep and we don't go by a comfortable spirituality. We are really the salt of the earth and the light of the world reminding us at the same time that we are serving a kingdom not of this world! " Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew, 5:16).
The first and the last of the beatitudes promise the kingdom of heaven and that too indicating the reward starting to be bestowed already now in this world. This shows how the Kingdom of God (heaven) is planted and nurtured in us even now to be gradually developed and enjoyed hereafter in the life to come in full measure. For the blessings of the other 6 beatitudes, we have to patiently wait till they are accomplished in the new heavens and the new earth (Revelations, 21:1). St. Augustine considered the first and the last beatitudes as really one because of the similarity of the reward of the kingdom of heaven. However, they cannot be identified as one because of the first parts in each of them: poverty in spirit for the first and persecution because of righteousness in the last. We have already seen the explanations for "poverty in spirit" and " righteousness because of persecutions" in our previous posts.
Jesus challenges in the Beatitudes our concept of blessedness consisting of bodily health and material wealth. He reverses the present world-order that heavily depends on our perception of well-being based on matter, body, senses etc. in favor of our real well-being based on the spirit, soul and the mind consisting of our intellect and will power. Jesus initiated the proclamation of his Gospel with this idea in mind by saying: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is now close at hand" (Matthew, 4:17). The early martyrs who suffered persecutions and death for Christ and the present persecutions of Christians in certain parts of the world are counted as blessings in this spiritual sense. Let us hasten to add here that our spiritual self is the deepest truth in us and not merely something peripheral and ornamental. If only persecutions, seizure of possessions, torture and death are taken as means to become like Christ along with righteousness, love, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, they are a blessing! If our world-view and life are governed by greed for material possessions as well as bodily indulgences to the point of neglecting our spiritual well-being, persecutions etc. are a complete disaster for us. However, how to live in the world of matter acquiring wealth and living a happy life etc. is to be learnt from the first Beatitude that is about poverty in spirit.
Why is the Kingdom of Heaven inevitably persecuted by the kingdoms of the world? It is due to the gulf between matter and spirit, body and soul, the earthly and the heavenly. Paul says in Galatians 4:29 that he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. In John 15:18-21 Jesus spoke about the inevitability of persecution for those who really grasp the meaning of the Kingdom of Heaven, its nature and powers and live accordingly.
Persecutions need not necessarily originate from the enemies of Christianity or from those who are ignorant of Jesus Christ. It may co-exist with so-called belief in Christ where brother may betray brother and so-called disciples of Jesus Christ may try to pull down other disciples out of jealousy etc. In this context, we may recall the homily by Pope Francis on the 19th of November 2014 at Casa Santa Marta where he mentioned about a sort of 'comfortable spirituality' that is actually a state of sin. The Pope's reference was to chapter 3 of Revelations dealing with the lukewarm Church of Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22). Thus there are various degrees of persecutions even within the Church of Christ because of a distorted view of discipleship in such persecutors (See next post:: 'Genuine Disciples of Jesus Christ'). Paul himself advised Timothy, his assistant and a true disciple of Christ, that all who desire to live a holy life united in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Timothy, 3:12) Persecution of any type from anyone is a golden opportunity to bear witness to Jesus Christ and we will be given a wisdom our enemies are unable to contradict (Luke, 21: 12-19).
So, how should we face persecutions? It is an opportunity for the true disciples of Jesus to grow in love, joy and peace. Let us remember that these three are the first fruits of the Holy Spirit out of the nine mentioned by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23. Heaven is nothing but true love, joy and peace all of which experienced now will be completed in our life to come. Suffering persecutions willingly for the sake of Jesus Christ is a sign that our faith is real and deep and we don't go by a comfortable spirituality. We are really the salt of the earth and the light of the world reminding us at the same time that we are serving a kingdom not of this world! " Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew, 5:16).
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