Blessed Are The Peacemakers
Throughout his ministry, Jesus taught his followers what it means to be peacemakers, the kinds of people who value relationships over rhetoric and do whatever they can to unite rather than divide.
He taught that they should be "salt" and "light" in the world, which meant that they ought to be the ones bringing the "flavor" of peace and unity and helping the people around them see the light of God's love more easily.
It wasn't easy for them. Even among the twelve disciples, there were disagreements and deep-seated cultural differences. But they somehow could find a way forward with one another and then to the world around them.
That same mandate of being a peacemaker is still a true thing for those of us who say that we want to follow Jesus. We live in a divided country where truth is distorted, scapegoating is real, and it's becoming harder and harder each day to trust one another.
Tania Runyan's poignant words from "The First Horse of the Apocalypse" glimpse the struggle between destruction and hope, often where peacemakers find themselves.
The poet writes a poem about encountering the white horse of the First Horseman of the Apocalypse from The Revelation of St. John in the Bible. The First Horseman symbolizes a conqueror who comes to exert his will on the world.
I am trying to believe that Goddoesn't will destruction, that out of lovehe allows our terrible freedomsto gallop across the globe.The arrows tremble in your shoulders.I pull them out, hum softly.and stroke your heaving flanks,even if your rider presses his sword to my neck,even if the book says I'm too late.
This powerful imagery resonates profoundly as we confront the darkness and violence that permeate our world. It reflects our yearning for a reality in which love prevails, and the chaos of human actions is met with the compassionate responses of those willing to engage in peacemaking.
Runyan’s acknowledgment of our “terrible freedoms” reminds us that while we possess the capacity for profound harm, we also can foster healing.
Indeed, peacemaking is not just an act of defiance against violence but a deliberate choice to pursue connection, understanding, and reconciliation. As we navigate a landscape filled with strife, we must cultivate faith in a future rooted in love and empathy.
In his seminal work No Future Without Forgiveness, Desmond Tutu beautifully emphasizes this notion when he states, “Forgiveness says you are given another chance to make a new beginning.”
This concept of forgiveness is vital in peacemaking, allowing individuals and communities to transcend past grievances. It invites us to let go of bitterness and resentment, creating space for dialogue and understanding. By acknowledging our shared humanity, we can actively transform conflict into collaboration.
Biblically, we are called to embody this spirit of peacemaking. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
This sacred directive encourages us to embrace the challenge of peacemaking in our everyday lives. It elevates pursuing peace to a divine calling that brings us closer to our true identity as bearers of compassion and goodwill.
Let us reflect on how we can answer this call in a world that often seems consumed by discord. Practicing peacemaking can manifest in many forms—through a listening ear, a kind word, acts of service, or standing in solidarity with those in need.
No matter how small, each act of kindness contributes to a ripple effect of change that encourages understanding and unity.
I encourage you—wherever you are, in your community, workplace, or family, to embrace the transformative power of peacemaking. Seek to create a culture of respect and compassion, and do not underestimate the impact you can have.
Together, we can cultivate a more just and peaceful society in our own corners of the world. Let us be the change we wish to see, illuminating paths of peace and understanding in a world that desperately needs it.
May it be so, and may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all, now and forever. Amen.
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