Blessed

Matthew 5:10-12

Whenever I hear someone say the word "blessed" I make the assumption (maybe falsely so) that they are a Christian. It's just that the word is so Christianny (Yes, I make up words) that I have a hard time imagining an atheist saying that he was "blessed".
To be blessed implies a blesser.

That said, we now come upon the stickiest blessing: persecution. "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:10). Last I checked losing one's job, being the butt of jokes, getting thrown in prison, being rejected by one's parents, or even getting killed don't look like blessings. Really, when was the last time someone stood up in church and said, "I just want to praise God for letting me lose my job because I stood up for him." That doesn't feel like a blessing--that feels like a bad joke.

The mystery of why it is good to suffer for righteousness sake is not completely explained in this passage, but there are two things to keep in mind: those who suffer persecution will receive a great reward in heaven and those who suffer persecution join a long list of God honored people who were persecuted before them.

There's something I noticed reading over the text tonight. The beatitudes are in the form of "blessed are those"...from Matthew 5:3 to 5:10. But after Jesus starts talking out persecution he switches from describing the characteristics of the blessed to addressing the blessed personally. "Blessed are you (Matthew 5:11). It's almost as if Jesus has reached the most intimate part of his conversation and his tone changes. There's a shift in his voice.

I can almost hear him explain. "Listen, I'm talking to you now. When you suffer and struggle for my sake, you are blessed. Don't give up, there is a reward in heaven. I can't wait to honor you there. But for now, hang on!"