Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 10. Heretics and malefactors suffer occasionally, but they are not on this account blessed, because they suffer not for justice. For, says Saint Augustine they cannot suffer for justice, who have divided the Church; and where sound faith or charity is wanting, there cannot be justice. Cont. epis. Parm. l. i. chapter 9. ep. 50. ps. 4. conc. 2. B.—By justice here we understand virtue, piety, and the defence of our neighbour. To all who suffer on this account, he promises a seat in his heavenly kingdom. We must not think that suffering persecution only, will suffice to entitle us to the greatest promises. The persecutions we suffer must be inflicted on us on his account, and the evils spoken of us must be false and contradicted by our lives. If these are not the causes of our sufferings, so far from being happy, we shall be truly miserable, because then our irregular lives would be the occasion of the persecutions we suffer. Chry. hom. xv.