“Raising His eyes toward His disciples Jesus said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man….But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way'” (Luke 6:20-26).

Because I don’t believe in coincidences, but rather in Providence, it is not surprising that this gospel from Luke is the today’s reading on the day that Charlie Kirk was assassinated. With his shocking murder in mind, I am inspired to reflect on this passage in a broader, more immediate way.

As is often the case, Jesus shocks us with His language which invites us to see reality and the spiritual life with a new perspective. He tells us we are blessed if we are “poor,” “hungry,” “weeping,” “hated,” “excluded and insulted,” and “denounced” for believing in Him. How can this be? Jesus’ words are shocking, considering most of us understandably wish and actually work to reject all of this. Our culture tells us we are to strive for success, fulfillment, happiness, love, and inclusion at any cost. How can we want the opposite? Furthermore, how are we blessed by all this suffering?

But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He goes further. Not only are we to suffer, but He also tells us “woe” to those who are “full,” who “laugh,” and are admired. Isn’t this what life is about? Happiness, fulfillment, getting what we want?

On the contrary, Jesus tells us when we are poor and needy, we are to “rejoice and leap for joy,” for our “reward will be great in heaven.”

Why does Jesus focus on our suffering here? Why are we to be poor and small and needy? He tells us this, because if we are filled with the riches of this world, if we are consumed with what we can get and do and have, we will become self-sufficient; we will have little need for Him. He is the way. Only in Him can we find meaning and love and rest for our restless hearts, as Augustine tells us.

Charlie Kirk was successful and much loved by many, but he was also hated–hated so much that he lost his life for standing for Truth. But those of us committed to Truth, to life, to freedom, know Charlie embodied the courage and perseverance we are all called to cultivate as Christians. Perhaps this consolation feels meagre at this moment, on the evening of his death, but we can be sure that Charlie died a martyr for God, Truth, honesty, and the American Way. Let us pray that he is indeed rejoicing and leaping for joy and that that his reward is great in heaven.

Rest in Peace, Charlie Kirk.