A passage that challenges us to a vision of how we should be is the Beatitudes. In Matthew, the beatitudes are the beginning of Jesus’ proclamation of the Kingdom of God. It answers the question, “who will be the ones to benefit from the coming kingdom”? Today I want to focus on one aspect of the person who is a beneficiary of the kingdom- The Peacemaker.

What does the word “blessed” mean? The word blessed means happy. When we say “God bless you” to somebody, it means “May God make you happy”. We have visions for what makes for a happy life. It could be having lots of money, or lots of ‘friends’, being successful in a career, having a close family, etc. - all good things that God may grant us. However, that blessedness could come at the cost of trampling down relationships.

• A great career could come at the cost of neglecting our children.
• Having a close family could come at the cost of shunning the black sheep.
• Being popular could come at the cost of abandoning our longtime friends.
• Looking strong and secure could come at the cost of bullying others.

In Biblical thinking, the prerequisite, and ultimately the only secure manifestation, of the blessed life is a right relationship with God. Good things may be a true blessing from God and something to be thankful for. However, those things disappear or lose its luster. Blessedness that comes from being in right relationship with God withstands the transitions (tragedies or natural progression) of life. The person who is at peace with God can die happy.

That is why Job can say to God “though you slay me yet will I hope in you”. Despite his sufferings, Job believed that his blessedness lies with God, whom he has walked with all his life. Therefore, his suffering is not the last word. He has hope that good things will still come. Our verse proclaims that God’s blessing will come to the peacemaker. He is a person that will benefit from the kingdom.

Sometimes worldly or fleshly thinking implies that people get in the way of happiness, or security comes through overpowering others. Here are examples:

• Parents who want a good life for their children do not spend enough time building relationship with th eir children. They focus on their careers.
• Parents treat “disobedient” children with less love than their “obedient” children. This could come through statements of disappointment or active withholding of love.
• Teenagers avoid being seen in public with their childhood friends because they want to be identified with the popular crowd.
• Children fight so they can look tough, which is how they think they will be safe. They need to learn that violence begets more violence, and the cycle goes on.

However, Godly thinking lifts up human relationships as something to be valued. People are not to focus on overpowering others, which is the root of injustice. People are not to shun, but to show kindness and mercy towards others. Peace comes when relationships are valued. This brings me to a discussion of what it means to be a Peacemaker?

Imagine with me a warrior with a drawn sword. Our attitude towards people could reflect the image of that warrior, ready to fight, treating the other as a threat to be eliminated, or at least neutralized. How does this attitude manifest itself?

One way is through vengeful thoughts. Sometimes those who have been victimized harbor hopes of hurting the one who victimized them, or wishes harm on them. The vengeful mind may even inflict vengeance on the “weak” just to make himself feel powerful. Although it is natural for humans to seek justice, the longing for wrongs to be corrected could lead to a lack of peace- in the person and in society. Vengeance must be left to God for the sake of peace.

Another way is through contempt- Think about how you look at others. Is there an immediate revulsion towards some people? This may be because the person looks raggedy or does not speak right or “obviously” embroiled in a sinful lifestyle or reminds us of someone who harmed us. Contemptuous attitude may manifest itself through shunning others, not making an effort to engage them at any level.

Another way is through hostility- Do you try to listen to those who don’t think the way you do, especially those who are belligerent towards what you believe? Do you try to appreciate where they are coming from? Or do you just minimize their concerns? Are you ready to pounce on them, overwhelming them with your “rightness”? When your desire is to put down another person, going beyond sharing your mind and heart, you have become hostile.

Another way is through resentment- The resentful person may make a sincere effort to look friendly but in his heart, he may harbor hateful thoughts towards another. A resentful person may be sincere in trying to be friendly to the other or he may be openly bitter- showing meanness towards another by words, attitudes, or by body language. Whether sincere or openly bitter, the root of resentment is the inability to accept the whole person, his strengths (envy and jealousy) and weaknesses (unforgiveness and self-rightousness).

This brings me to the last words of this verse, the reason that the Peacemaker is blessed- “he shall be called a child of God”. A child resembles his father. A peacemaker resembles the ultimate peacemaker, God. He invites to his banquet whosoever will come. He eats with sinners and does good things for them (healing, providing). While we were yet sinners, he died for us. He laid down the sword of his wrath, to the point of giving himself. He did this to remove the word “unacceptable” from us, a label for us sinners- we who are contemptuous, vengeful, hostile, resentful, neglectful, self-absorbed.

To show that we are children of God, we lay down the sword that we are ready to use on those whom we disapprove of- the estranged child, the hurtful spouse, the traitorous friend, the opinionated stranger. Instead of the sword, the Peacemaker uses himself- his loving words, his listening ear, his comforting touch, his servant’s heart, to communicate peace in the midst of conflict. The Peacemaker is like a warrior who lays down his sword and lets himself become vulnerable, open to being hurt or rejected, for the sake of peace in his world.

Prayer: Lord, help us remember that we are recipients of your grace- a grace that restores peace between you and us. May you strengthen us to extend that same grace for the healing of our relationships and for the building of your kingdom. Amen.