Blessed are the Persecuted

Blessed are the Persecuted

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”[1]

“Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven…”[2]

These sayings from the Beatitudes of Matthew and the Blessings and Woes of Luke address those who are persecuted, hated, excluded, reviled, and defamed. And not just those who are persecuted, hated, excluded, reviled, and defamed, but more specifically, those persecuted, hated, excluded, reviled, and defamed for righteousness’ sake or on account of the Son of Man. As I have noted in an earlier essay, when the Bible refers to righteousness, as in the passage from Matthew,it is referring to what we call social justice today. Biblical righteousness is not about being personally right, as in not wrong, but about working for social equality and correcting the injustices of our social systems. The Luke passage refers to persecution on account of the Son of Man, which is related, but not exactly the same.

The Son of Man is a title Jesus commonly used, always in the third person, and presumably to refer to himself – but not only to himself. Son of Man means the human one, or a consummated – completed – human being. It refers to one who has attained a level of maturity approaching what God created in us to emerge. Jesus modeled how a consummated human being behaves so we could better grow into our God-given potential. A consummated human being behaves in ways consistent with social justice. The significance of Jesus’ use of this term in the third person is that while it may refer to him, it also refers to others who approach the status of a consummated human being. The Son of Man is not a specific person but a state of being. This is what Jesus encourages us to become by saying: Follow me. Such a being is a healing presence for those around him or her. Others feel closer to God in the presence of an awakened human being, not because the awakened one is God but because the awakened one awakens the presence of God residing within the other.

The reward for those persecuted for working for social justice or for being an awakened presence has to do with the kingdom of heaven. Matthew says the kingdom of heaven is theirs; Luke says their reward is great in heaven. Both statements of reward are in the present tense, meaning they refer to a heavenly reality in the here and now, and not necessarily about some future state after we die (as is commonly assumed). This is important because the benefits of working for social justice and personal awakening impact life today. They make our lives better, as well as improving the lives of others, in the present. This is one of the stronger statements confirming that the life and teachings of Jesus are intended to help us live fuller lives on earth now, as opposed to what is commonly taught in many “Christian” churches that following Jesus helps assure us of a life in some eternal paradise after we die. That may or may not be true, but we pervert the teachings of Jesus by treating them as afterlife insurance. We should love and care for others because God loves and cares about others, not because we think we will be rewarded after we die.

The significance of being hated, excluded, reviled, or defamed for seeking to attain a level of spiritual maturity consistent with the Son of Man is important. When we persist in spite of the criticisms of others, it reveals that we are motivated by purposes beyond any immediate prestige in the eyes of those who weigh prestige by earthly measures, which are always temporary and passing. We are learning to be present to a world, a kingdom, an ideal superior to that which is commonly experienced by those who are always looking ahead to some imagined future where they will have everything they think they need to be happy. Rather, our focus is on living in the present moment, being aware of the presence of the holy here and now, for that is the only reality in which the Divine resides. We persist not because we necessarily enjoy being hated, excluded, reviled, or defamed, but because we will not break faith with what we know to be true. And what we know to be true is that the key to the kingdom of heaven is the knowledge that everything we need for happiness, contentment, and consummation is always present right here and right now, regardless of where we are. To the extent we stray from the now, to that same extent will we find ourselves wandering aimlessly in search of some unattainable reward. The kingdom of heaven exists in the daily tasks awaiting our attention in the now.

This is the 20^thin a series titled Blessedness and Woe.Life Notes are my explorations into mysteries that interest me. They are invitations for readers to explore more deeply into life’s mysteries. Engage with me or explore contemplative spiritual direction at ghildenbrand@outlook.com.

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[1] Matthew 5:10

[2] Luke 6:22-23