“They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as parents spare their children who serve them.”   Malachi 3:17

“Jesus said: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”  Matthew 5:9

I don’t recall the context or where I read it, an editorial perhaps.  The writer was a professor who taught a class on lawyers as peacemakers.  The term has stayed in my mind.  

It isn’t lawyers specifically.  We could substitute any profession, any vocation – working together in a peaceable relationship with clients and coworkers, cooperating to accomplish a task, affirming others for their good ideas and applauding their success.

We could substitute our nation, community and neighborhoods – respectful listening, giving a soft answer, working together for the common good with fair solutions for shared concerns, sharing and helping, opening doors rather than building fences,

We could substitute family – working, yes, working – to live together in harmony, with much needed patience, with calm and respectful dialogue, not self-centered and jealous but concerned with comfort and safety for the family unit,

We look to Jesus as our example.  “Peter, put away your sword.”  While sticks and stones may break bones, words – bullying, shaming, unkind, unforgiving attitudes – do hurt and break the human spirit.  We are commanded to love one another, to put aside negative competitiveness and jealousy, fear and mistrust, judgement and selfish squabbles.  It’s not easy to be called children of God, to live as peacemakers.

Prince of Peace, bless us with your Spirit, that we rise up each morning feeling of peace with God, lie down each night feeling at peace with God, neighbors, family and neighbors, and that we live the hours between as peacemakers with our coworkers, neighbors, friends and family, as your children.  Amen

Verla Olson

Ministries
Teaching Mission Party