Blessed are the Peacemakers

What an appropriate Beatitude for this time of year, when we celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace to look at what it means to be peacemakers.

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the Sons of God

matthew 5:9

The Prince of Peace, Jesus, came to reconcile us to God, that we may have peace with God, and that we would be adopted into the family and called ‘sons of God’

We have to look to this Prince of Peace to see what a peacemaker is and to see what role we have as peacemakers. So first of all we have to see that Peacemakers are not the same as Peacekeepers who can be passive, can cover over conflict for the sake of false unity, they call for peace where there is unrest and hurts and shame, but don’t get to the bottom of these things, there is no actual peace at the core, they white-wash issues with bland words.

Peacemakers are FOR peace, they work for peace, they pursue peace, they actively engage in the peacemaking process in order to bring about reconciliation. Reconciliation between Christian brothers and sisters, reconciliation between family members, reconciliation between friends, and most importantly reconciliation between us and God.

So where there is discord, disharmony, hurts, unforgiveness and grievances we are called to bring reconciliation. To recognise the conflict, recognise the hurts, recognise the imperfections, not ignore those real and often raw human emotions and yet still seek for reconciliation. Recognise that God is bigger than those things, recognise that Jesus came to heal us from those things, and be brave to work for peace in these situations.

To live like Jesus, to live up to His standards is not easy, He calls us to bigger, He calls us to better and He calls us to be brave and step out from worldly standards and instead follow His radical ways and be peacemakers, bringing reconciliation with God.

Only in Jesus can we find true peace because only through Jesus can we have peace and reconciliation with God.

Peace, I leave you with; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 14:27

Where do you need to be a peacemaker in your relationships?

Do you need to be brave and actually face up to an unpleasant situation rather than just let it fester?

What about your relationship with God, do you need reconciliation there?

Do you know the peace of Jesus, which keeps you heart free from trouble and from being afraid?