Reflections on the Beatitudes – Part Eight (final)

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

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Matthew 5:11"

 

I listen to the Daily Audio Bible every day. By listening every day for a year, I can “read” the Bible in its entirety; the year 2014 marks the second time I have taken on the challenge. From the Old Testament, through the Psalms and Proverbs, through the New Testament, there are 1,189 chapters in the Bible. Each day, the Daily Audio Bible has chapters from the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs, so in the next week, we will finish all four sections.

In listening to the Bible, I hear and reflect on all of the people who suffered persecution for their religious beliefs, sometimes with horrific details. How can anyone possibly ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter? How can anyone go to prison because he speaks beliefs that are contrary to those of the King’s? How can anyone join in a crowd that is shouting, “Crucify him!”? How can a father send his child out into the wilderness on the demand of his wife, who arranged the surrogate birth in the first place?

Is it simply a reflection of the times, and the sense of right and wrong between then and now? Even as I reflect on the mores of the 50s and 60s when I was raised with those of today, I can see the contrast and only pray for wisdom and discernment as I go about my daily life.

Still, I flash forward and compare the Bible stories to the stories of today – we have analogous situations today. Not so long ago, young adults turned away from their families to follow a charismatic cult leader, and committed suicide at his request. Today, militants behead prisoners, and post the gory details on the Internet for all to see. Neighborhoods are burned and looted by those who become so righteously indignant by their perceived injustice that they cannot control their emotions. Police officers, who must decide in a split-second whether their attacker is mentally impaired before they shoot, are forced to live in anonymity for fear of their lives and those of their families.

I would like to believe that justice truly is blind, and that in this rapidly-advancing technological age, we can become enlightened enough to rise above the terrible images and not perpetuate the persecution. We can catch a glimpse of the image in a thumbnail version and simply not click on it. We can wait for the justice system to work its course, and honor the decisions of impartial juries. I ask myself, would I be willing to be persecuted because of righteousness, or would I shrink into the darkness? I like to think that, as a result of constant prayers for wisdom and discernment, I would make the right decision, out in the bright light of wisdom, and that decision wouldn’t be for naught.