Blessed are the Peacemakers

Sometimes peace making seems impossible. Nations, ethnicities, families, and friends are at odds with each other… so many people are at war with themselves in their own souls. So, how do we make peace with ourselves and others in the battle zone of life? Do we deal with conflict through “an eye for an eye,” settle accounts, take medication to bring peace? We may be peace lovers or peace keepers but we must learn to be peace makers… and peace makers – make war.

The Apostle Paul gives us a clue in 2 Cor 10:3-5. “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Paul is saying that the way to win a war is in our thoughts. Making thoughts obedient to Christ, declaring war on darkness through light… destroying evil with God’s goodness. Don’t resist war like a “peace lover” or a “peace keeper” who merely doesn’t “rock the boat”. They believe through passivity they win a war. That wasn’t Jesus’ style at all. So what does peace making look like?

The way Jesus dealt with conflict was to take it on… even take it in to himself. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him. Scripture teaches us to bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. The way we can bring peace is to make it; make it through being an instrument of peace. If someone is harassing you, take in their pain, put yourself in their shoes, pray for them, bear it for them and give them peace in return. Be an instrument for God’s peace. Breathe in someone’s pain – breathe out relief to them. Absorb someone’s anger – offer consolation. Listen to someone’s rantings – extend an olive branch. Hold reverently someone’s despair and impart the hope of Christ. As you bring peace to others (like Jesus did), you’ll experience His peace in your own soul. You are His instrument!

We pray this prayer with you,

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:26-27