Ali from Iran met Carlos from Columbia in a world religions class in the United States, and they became friends. They had dinner together every evening, and they would discuss topics, sometimes for several days in a row. They were assigned to read Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5-7), and they became fascinated with the following teaching: “Happy are they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Although they had somewhat differing perspectives, they agreed in their general interpretation of religious traditions as a mix of ideals and the diverse practices of communities flowing down through history.
Ali proposed, and Miguel agreed that the highest happiness comes from intelligent worship. In religious experience there may be a personal and cultural periphery which is not well aligned with divine truth, but there is a core reality that is indeed rejoicingly wonderful. One aspect to the love of God experienced in religious experience is an assurance of eternal life.
Miguel proposed, and Ali agreed, that the core of righteousness was supreme devotion to seeking, finding, choosing, and doing the will of God.
They searched for a definition of what it means for someone to be persecuted. The core concept seems to be centered around the case where a person accepts death rather than renouncing the practice of his/her religion. But the history of the word seems to go back to Latin, meaning to follow or pursue. A non-religious example would be a person who is followed by a stalker. Or someone who is bullied. Or think of a righteous journalist who is murdered because of her search for truth. Ali and Miguel agreed that Jesus was focusing on religious persecution and not commenting on other types of abuse.
Miguel said that a religious person may be mistreated in retaliation for his misdeeds. That would not be persecution.
Ali insisted that a person truly devoted to God should be ready to lay down your life at any time. A person should not seek to become a martyr. To be a peacemaker is much better. But if that fails, then the decision is clear. Indeed, there are lesser sacrifices to be made in daily life that require the calm courage that comes from being centered in God.
Miguel: In Jesus’ place and time, the Roman Emperor was supposed to be worshiped as a god. If that were to be enforced by the Roman soldiers, a righteous person would worship only God. But how do you develop readiness for that sacrifice?
Ali: Most children and teens are not ready for that. But if you grow up in a culture where true martyrs are remembered and honored, that ideal is there in the background as you face different kinds of opposition growing up. Gradually, a person of deep faith becomes ready to stake his or her life. And there are children and teens who get this idea early on.
All their conversations on this topic gave added meaning to the concepts of happiness, righteousness, and persecution and enhanced their motivation to further growth toward the fullness of righteousness and spiritual happiness.
Happy are they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Photo Credit Cross on the Dingle (Irish: An Daingean) Peninsula, County Kerry, Ireland
By Mith – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22730719
