In the era in which the Beatitudes were written in Matthew’s Gospel , there was a lot of discrimination and oppression being experienced in the Early Church. In those days, the definition of a saint was someone who was martyred for the faith. Persecutions were common for those who followed Jesus in the centuries before Christianity became officially recognized as a lawful religion in the Roman Empire. Living out the Beatitude of bring persecuted for the sake of righteousness was a big part of daily life for the early Christians. Today, increasingly, Christians around the world are being persecuted for the faith. Here in modern America, opposing the death penalty and abortion, having a sacramental view of marriage between a man and a woman, and declaring human life as beginning at conception can bring about derision and persecution in our own lived reality. Jesus gives us the courage to proclaim his Gospel and his values in our words and our actions. He calls us blessed when we have the conviction to proclaim to the world what we believe. In that way, we are blessed. In that way, we are lights in the world, in the way we dialogue with the world and give voice to the values of the Gospel. May all of you have the courage and strength to live out the values of the Gospel in your daily lives. Have a blessed week everyone. Father Lincoln.
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