“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” There is a reason the beatitude about peacemakers is followed by the beatitude about persecution. Those who become ministers of reconciliation often suffer; even lose their lives, because they have identified themselves with Jesus Christ. The true disciple, who is like Jesus, who has the “beautiful attitudes,” confronts people with a model of what they should be and often suffers for Jesus.
