LONGING FOR GOD’S PEACE, DAY FIVE

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Tuesday, April 8th

How might be become peacemakers for others who are longing for God’s peace? I immediately thought of the words of Jesus in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). And when I read the rest of the passage, I noticed that the other verses describe ways we might become better peacemakers…

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began to speak and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” ~ Matthew 5:1-12

Each time we are among the “blessed,” we can gain new experiences and understandings of God’s peace–and we can also glean new ways to serve as peacemakers. When we are wounded or in need (when we are humbled, persecuted, grieved, wounded, or longing for more), and find ourselves longing for a greater power beyond our own, we become more open and vulnerable to receive God’s peace and comfort.

And then as we later recall these times, remembering how God helped or carried us through them, our trust in God’s goodness deepens. We become the “blessed” again in new ways–as we become merciful, pure in heart, and yes, peacemakers. Our own experiences help us to understand and aid others who are hurting, who need kindness or forgiveness, who long for peace.

Every trial, every longing, every sadness, every act of kindness, and every judgment against us can shape us into God’s peacemakers. Turning to God for our peace, growing in faith through our experiences of peace, and learning to help others find peace, we are increasingly becoming “blessed” as peacemakers, children of God.

Bible verses are NRSVUE, found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
(Photo by Karen)