👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾#Christians #Persecuted for #Righteousness: (Month of #Tsige)
(Part 1)
Beloved in Christ, grace and peace be multiplied to you from our Lord Jesus Christ. As we reflect upon the sacred memories of the month of Tsige, let us immerse our hearts in the profound truths revealed by the Holy Scriptures and the experiences of our most holy Lady, the Virgin Mary, and her Divine Son, our Redeemer. Today, we contemplate the blessedness of Christians who are persecuted for righteousness, seeking to learn from their example and the warnings that God sets before us through the stories of the righteous and the wicked alike.
I. The Persecution of Our Lady and Our Lord
During the month of Tsige, we remember the holy suffering of the King of Heaven and Earth, Jesus Christ, who in the tender arms of His Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, was exiled with Joseph and Salome for three years and six months of hunger and trial. This exile was not a mere accident of history but the fulfillment of God’s plan for the redemption of mankind.
Christ, the eternal Son of God, voluntarily left the glory of Paradise to bear the sins of Adam and all his descendants. He was the Innocent among the guilty, the Light among darkness. Our Lady, by her endurance of suffering and persecution, teaches us an eternal truth: to be persecuted for righteousness is not disgrace, but honor. The saints, whom God loves, persecution for their faith, for the truth, and for the cause of righteousness.
II. Christ Teaches the Blessedness of Persecution
The Lord Himself, our Redeemer, gave His followers the Beatitudes as a guiding light:
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).
Persecution, beloved, is not merely the act of being driven from one country to another. It is a spiritual condition, a life lived as a witness of the truth in every thought, word, and deed. To be persecuted for righteousness is to bear witness to God in a world of falsehood, to stand firm in the face of slander, and to endure humiliation without surrendering to deceit.
The Lord continues, “Blessed are you when men revile you, persecute you, and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12). Let these words of Christ encourage the faithful to persevere, knowing that earthly trials are a passage to heavenly glory.
III. True Righteousness and Repentance
Even as we endure persecution, we must remember that not all suffering is of God’s will. We must distinguish between suffering for righteousness and suffering for sin. As the Apostle Paul warns, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. Whatever one sows, that will he also reap” (Galatians 6:7).
When insults, reproach, or false accusations come upon us, let us examine our hearts. If sin has led to our misfortune, let us repent. But if we are persecuted for defending the truth, we must endure with humility and patience, not masking sin as a sacrifice. The month of Tsige, recalling the sufferings of our Lady, reminds us to renew our repentance and strive toward righteousness so that we may truly become heirs of the Kingdom of God.
Witnesses of Christ Who Were Persecuted for Righteousness’ Sake
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10
Those who suffer for the truth are the true friends of Christ. They have made righteousness the rule of their lives and accepted every trial with patience and love. Their suffering is not loss but glory, for they share in the Cross of the Lord and receive the crown of eternal life.
Continues 👇🏾