Enduring a year-long contract engagement in a contentious work place, when my contract came up for renewal I declined. The
company had brought in several trained coaches with hope of maintaining civility
for the sake of improved morale and productivity. Quite
simply, it’s not always possible to be among peace-loving people, and not easy to
be a peacemaker in an antagonistic environment.
True peace is spiritual
harmony brought about by restoration and relationship with God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9
Sitting on a hillside with his followers around him,
Jesus tells them how they are to live, that their whole attitude and outlook
are to be transformed from the inside out. Their goal must be a goodness like
God’s, a goodness without boundaries. Jesus turned ordinary human ideas about peace
and safety upside down, for both must be dared by faith and with the risk of
suffering. Jesus’ heart was pure and peaceful. He slept through
the storm as his disciples feared for their safety. When Peter raised his sword
in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus lifted his hand to heal.
The Cost of Discipleship: (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
Followers of Christ have been called to peace, and
they must not only have peace but also make it. And to that end they renounce
all violence and tumult. In the cause of Christ nothing is to be gained by such
methods. His disciples keep the peace by choosing to endure suffering
themselves rather than inflict it on others. They maintain fellowship where
others would break it off. They renounce hatred and wrong. In so doing they
over-come evil with good and establish the peace of God amid a world of war and
hate.
“Lord, make me an instrument
of your peace.” (Saint Frances of Assisi)
1 comment:
What a beautiful sentiment of forgiveness and redemption. Jesus wants us to seek a rainbow in a storm and to look for the inherent good in people. This is not always an easy thing to do! Sometimes people can get so caught up in their misery, that all they know how to be is negative.
As Christians, we represent Christ and his all empowering love. He reminds us to hate the sin, not the sinner. We are not allowed to judge, only Christ can. Yet, he doesn't, he loves. We need to walk in his footsteps and be like him; turn around hatred and sow love!
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