Matt. 5:1-16
"Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
This cycle of reflections is nearing an end, but the last two are especially focused on being in a hostile environment and not allowing it to keep you from your mission.
St. John the Baptist.
The Lord says of him in Scripture, "This is the one about whom scripture says: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, he will prepare your way before you.' I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he" (Lk. 7:27-28).
John's mission is one of preparation - he is to go to the people of Israel, as all of the prophets of old were called to do, and proclaim to her that the Bridegroom is on his way, and that they must prepare themselves. He is to call them to repentance and healing, to be cleansed and purified to make room for the Love who comes to dwell in the hearts of those who will receive him.
This is what I think of when I meditate on this beatitude - that God our Father comes to many hearts seeking entrance, a home, a place to be made for him that he can fill and sustain the life of that person. Yet, so often, he encounters a hostile environment. Whether purposeful or not, we often make sure our time and heart is full of many other things so that there is no need to address that He is knocking. If we can, we will simply be satisfied with the noise we surround ourselves with and the distractions we use to keep us busy. Sometimes we suffer from sins or addictions that build very strong defenses against love entering our hearts - self-hatred leads to self-deprecation and unhealthy or dangerous behaviors that are fed from insecurities and lies about our self worth or image. We become trapped in a cage we allowed the world to build for us, and even though we might want out, we cling to what we feel "comfortable" in, even if its our misery. We allow the fear of change, or of pain, or of the truth which may be hard to face to keep us shut away. We prefer the light to the darkness, because there we don't have to acknowledge what is wrong, or we don't have to go through the healing process.
Yet, the Lord keeps knocking - he is a persistent lover and the flame of love that never burns out. He has all the time in the world to woo us, since he is outside of time. There's no rush, he'll just keep offering us his love. Yet, we sometimes need extreme measures of other's help to break down walls we are too weak to face. Sometimes the analogy that JRR Tolkien creates with Grima Wormtongue and the King of Rohan is exactly what we are living - we have heard too many whispers of lies in the dark and hidden places and we have slowly lost all our strength to them until, even when we desire the change we are offered, we cannot do it alone for we are too weak.
This is what I think we can picture for God when he finds the hostile territory of hearts unwelcoming to his love. He offers freedom, but we don't see the offer, we're squeezing our eyes shut tight. Or he offers us love, and we are bound in fear and cannot open the door. He offers us new life and we don't hear his voice.
This too is how it can be for those who are attempting to proclaim the Kingdom day to day in their lifestyles, their holiness, their love for the Lord. They encounter people and situations and institutions and laws that are not open. They may be directly attacked, mocked or persecuted, but more often it is that they are not acknowledge or accepted in this state. People ignore that part of them, or pretend that they don't notice their devotion. Or they are sincerely unaware of it because it is foreign to their daily lives.
This is the challenge then, to work on our own hearts being opened, walls broken down, eyes unblinded, ears unplugged, fear sent away - that we might be able to receive his love and life. Likewise, the challenge is both the obvious (to endure through persecution and to be brave even when threatened or attacked, as John the Baptist was), and the more hidden aspect, of assisting others in unplugging their ears and opening their eyes. Love, mercy, honesty, persistence, faithfulness, truth, etc.. these attributes will eventually shine through and aid our brothers and sisters in recognizing the invitation Jesus is making to them.
The more we are able to humble ourselves, ask for grace and love to be with us, and work for the goodness these beatitudes teach, the more we will be able to invite others both directly and indirectly into the very Heart of Christ, and into the Church.
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