Are you tired of all the arguing, bickering, finger pointing, and in-fighting we see in our society today? Do you wish it would all end? Do you wish people would simply get along? Are you doing anything about it? Are you helping? Or are you contributing to it?
We can’t go a single day without hearing someone complain about something. We may be doing the complaining. It seems as though we can’t go a week without hearing of or being involved in some type of dispute. There is an argument and perhaps in-fighting going on.
In the seventh Beatitude, Jesus says the peacemakers are blessed. How do we become a peacemaker. We must recognize and accept the peace of God, his shalom. Shalom is the true peace of God that we can experience through our faith in Christ. It includes trusting God is in control, even when things seem out of control. As we accept God’s shalom, we are overcome with the peace that goes beyond understanding. Fear, anxiety, and worry are gone.
It is by our faith that we can accept God’s shalom. Once we have, we can spread that peace to others. We do that by quelling the fear and anxiety of others. We step in to mediate arguments between others. We see beyond the individual circumstances, seeing the bigger picture, and help reduce or eliminate tensions by sharing the peace of God.
Being a peacemaker is not easy. It requires us to step in the middle of tough situations. We may initially be viewed negatively, for to be the peacemaker we must understand both sides. As we seek to bring about reconciliation, we are doing the work of God, one small contribution toward the work Jesus did on the cross. God reconciled the world to him through the cross. Peacemaking reconciles people to people.
I pray we all accept the shalom of God. I pray we experience the peace of God in our lives. I pray each one of us seek reconciliation with others and assist with reconciliation among others. Accept God’s shalom. Experience the peace of God. Seek reconciliation. Be a peacemaker.
Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Marty Pressey 