If all of the seven characters developed through the beatitudes can be called “seeking righteousness,” the world is quick to scoff over such wimpy weakness because it makes them look bad.
Most of us need only to look back on our lives to a time before we had the maturity we have now to see that this is how we reacted to serious believers, before we began to understand the depth of what Christ offers every person on the planet.
I think the world has a guilty conscience but does not realize what is nagging at them. So they lash out against the poor in spirit, the mourning, the meek, the hungry and thirsty for simple righteousness.
So persecution at one level or another proceeds naturally against those actually living the beatitudes:
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:10).
It is only when we seek refuge under attack that we can truly appreciate the never-ending love of God. And while release from persecution may not come in this life, perfect unity with God comes from experiencing his kingdom, here on earth, right now, in the present!
The kingdom of God is ours! Moreover:
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Mt 5:11).
Every attack against a believer in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is converted to a blessing right now in the kingdom of God. This is the amazing transformational chemistry of God, which turns evil into inner peace:
“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Mt 5:12; Lk 6:22-23).
The word translated “rejoice” is even stronger than English can capture. It means “exult” and “leap.” We know how to do this – at the moment when our team hits a “walk-off” home run in extra innings of a baseball game, or scores the winning touchdown, goal, or basket at the buzzer.
Isn’t this part of the perfect unity Jesus prays for at the end of his earthly ministry – patient endurance throwing open the door of joy and gladness – together as one?
Leap and exult in the very present kingdom of God in perfect unity with your brothers and sisters in Christ!