Happy Are You

During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus encouraged his listeners with what we now call The Beatitudes.

Matthew 5:10: Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11: Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12: Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

You might find the juxtaposition of these two pictures informative.