EIGHT Jesus’ Spiritual Laws: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake ... ”

EIGHT You Will Be Blessed 

Blessed are those who are persecuted
for righteousness’ sake, for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven.

Do not judge or retaliate; always forgive yourself
and the forgiveness of others will follow.

If you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

—Matthew 5:46, 44-45.

You are deceived if you think that a Christian can live without persecution. A storm puts one on his guard and obliges him to exert his utmost efforts to avoid shipwreck.

—St. Jerome.

The spiritual law that has challenged us to be peacemakers (SEVEN) now brings us up to this final law or Beatitude of Jesus: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Or: “When you are under the gun because you have followed these laws, remember—you are one step from the kingdom of God.”

This is a double-sided maxim, as are all Jesus’ laws or blessings. It implies a life of following “kingdom ways” through the guidelines we have already been given: poverty of spirit, an ability to mourn, meek­ness, hunger for goodness, a compassionate heart, purity or singleness of mind and purpose, a love for peace.

And now we uncover a truth that many would prefer to be ignorant of: When we follow Jesus’ spiritual laws, we go against the grain of the “way the world is.” And the powers-that-be will not take lightly such a threat to their dominance.

The Rev. Allan Boesak, a South African clergyman who has known true persecution for his faith has written that:

"We will go before God to be judged, and God will ask us, 'Where are your wounds?' and we will say, 'We have no wounds.' And God will ask, 'Was nothing worth fighting for?'"

This spiritual law affirms that Jesus’ way is not only worth fighting for, but living for, through whatever challenges and dangers it may take us. It asserts, paradoxically, that the very safest place for us to be is always with God—in spite of the inevitable arrows that will be flung our way. ...

Is this law for everyone? It is true that Jesus was able to pray, “Father, forgive them,” even as evil people crucified him. And perhaps some will be given the extreme grace to see beyond their present pain and to experience forgiveness in their hearts right in the midst of oppression.

But we are human—struggling, incomplete—and thus, I believe, cannot fully enter into this particular “law” in this life. As someone has put it, “Save something for the angels.” One important thing is that we should not use this law of the kingdom as a bludgeon for demanding perfection of ourselves or others.

However, what our desire to follow Jesus will bring is an inner trans­formation: a profound change in the way we see the values of this world, and a lens for looking at life differently. We will simultaneously, paradoxically, value our lives as children of God more dearly; and we will learn to count our lives as “nothing” in the light of the Gospel and following Jesus’ way.

I am giving Thee worship with my whole life,
I am giving Thee assent with my whole power,
I am giving Thee praise with my whole tongue,
I am giving Thee honor with my whole utterance.