The Things That Make for Peace

     Every month I let one of my old mentors, Laurence Hull Stookey, guide me back through the beatitudes and the fruit of the spirit, day by day by day. I receive his guidance in the only way left to this world now that he has gone on, through his written word. So nearly every morning Dr. Stookey writes to me through his book on daily prayer in the Wesleyan tradition, “This Day.”

     Recently I arrived once more at the beatitude (found in Matthew 5), “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Once again I was struck by the realization that the world we live in is not acquainted with peace. I was reading and praying in the little side chapel at First United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, just off the main sanctuary, reflecting on these thoughts and gazing at a stained glass depiction of Jesus bearing the words, “would that even today you knew the things that make for peace.”

     Those who are acquainted with peace, or want to find peace, are often kept from being peacemakers by the idea that we should focus on finding our own peace. “Our own peace.” What does that even mean? It suggests somehow I can find my peace apart from yours. On my own. Left to my own devices. Following my own agenda for self-fulfillment.

     The Hebrew word shalom that lurks – at least in concept – even behind the Greek words in which the New Testament was written, insists that peace is sought for and gained corporately. It must be received as a gift from the hands of God, and shared as a gift to maintain. It seeks the success of others, the well-being of the community, the wholeness of the world. It guides us to a quiet stance of listening instead of speaking so much.

     Christians are called to make peace. Prayer is part of this, as much of what is best about peace can only be gained by the hand of God. But making peace can’t stop at prayer. It requires action, re-orientation… probably some repentance as well. In every one of his letters the Apostle Paul invokes blessing on his readers with “the peace of Christ be with you.” In John 14 Jesus is recorded as saying, “My peace I give to you.” The peace we most need is in the hands of Jesus. To make it, we will have to surrender our hands, our voices, our minds, our hearts, our very souls, to the way of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. How did Jesus make peace?

     That’s where it gets intimidating. Perhaps even downright frightening. For one major way Jesus made peace was through his cross. He did once say, “If any want to become my disciples, let them deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me.” What if making peace requires great love, great humility, and great sacrifice? No wonder we fall prey to the temptation to not be peacemakers.

     But…

     “Blessed are the peacemakers, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”