Blessed are the peacemakers — still

Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the meek, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, blessed are the merciful, blessed are the pure of heart, blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely.

The Beatitudes. The long list that Jesus gives us of who is a blessed individual. Did you find yourself in this list? At one time or another in our life we have for sure fit into one of these categories. We feel blessed because we are blessed. But how often in our life do we sit on the other side of the coin? How many times in our life have we not shown mercy? How many times have we not been peacemakers? How many times have we persecuted others? Probably too many for us to count.

It’s OK to admit that we do this way too often. I am just as guilty as anyone. I have judged. I have held grudges. I have not shown mercy when I thought someone had been given enough chances. Thankfully, we have the grace of God to bring us back from the darkness. We have a Spirit inside us that says ‘hold on buddy… don’t forget what Jesus taught us.’

It’s easy to fall into this trap. Easy to fall into the mindset that if something looks different or I don’t believe in it, they must be in the wrong. Are they looking to persecute me? If so, I need to strike first. I can’t be defensive and wait, I need to go on the offensive and keep their persecution at bay. Ask yourself, who’s doing the persecuting there?

Throughout history, people have hidden behind the banner of religion to persecute and oppress. Is it to protect your faith or is it a grab for power? In the early Christian Church, faith and power were deeply intertwined. In the era of state churches, the territory you lived in told you what your beliefs were. If you wanted to spread your beliefs, you had to fight to gain territory and most likely force people to convert.

Don’t want to convert? Well you’ll either be killed or exiled then.

Does that sound like Jesus? Blessed are the peacemakers. Blessed are the merciful. Look back in your Bible.

Look into your heart. Find the teachings of Jesus and ask yourself WWJD. What Would Jesus Do? It’s ok to have a change your mind. It’s ok to say that you believed something, but you’ve had a change of heart.

That’s called growth.

The disciples had to be reminded too. As Jesus is being arrested, Simon Peter draws a sword and cuts off the ear one of the persecutors. Jesus doesn’t cheer and encourage the fight. Instead he tells Simon Peter “Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will die by the sword.” Blessed are the peacemakers.

We’re still waiting on Jesus to come back and tell us this in person. To tell us how he would handle a situation. Until then, don’t forget that we are the hands and feet of Jesus. We are the workers in the Kingdom of God.

We need to be the peacemakers. We need to be the merciful. No one can force you to be a peacemaker. You need to find that on your own. You need to find that in your heart. Much like the mustard seed, it’s there.

Small but mighty, just waiting for the opportunity to grow. I hope and pray that we as a collective can find the peace. That we can find the coexistence of diversity. That we can say that we have differences in opinions, but you are a beloved child of God anyway.

Grow the seed of your faith in the ways of Jesus, the way the peacemaker would.

Go in Peace and Serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God.