Sunday, November 01, 2026
Sunday Reflection: Those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake
The reading at many churches this will be from the beatitudes at Matthew 5, which contains this advice:
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
I love this line. Since I was a kid, I have taken this not only as a promise, but a warning. The promise is that the persecuted will find the kingdom of heaven, and the warning is equally clear: that the righteous will be persecuted.
This simple truism shatters an expectation our society creates: That when you do the right thing, you will be celebrated. Unfortunately, that is only rarely true. Usually, doing the right thing leads to persecution.
That's because doing the right thing most often runs against the interests of those in power. It ruffles feathers. It's "inappropriate." It's "impertinent."
Sometimes, it is said to be "too soon." Or that "people aren't ready for that." Or that "it's divisive."
So be ready. But be strong.
