Matthew 5:8-10 (14.11.24)

Matthew 5:8-10 (NIVUK)
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Verse nine is why I decided to reflect on the beatitudes this week – it seemed appropriate in a week starting with Remembrance Sunday. It sometimes feels to me as if humanity spends a disproportionate amount of time building up power-bases, strength and military might compared to the time it spends proactively building peace. Perhaps this is because building up peace means properly listening to the other, perhaps because it costs personal comfort and preference, perhaps because it looks out not in. Perhaps it’s because it makes you vulnerable to others (see verse 10 for example). Building peace requires sacrifice, forgiveness, grace and humility.

Give me Christ’s courage, so that I may be a peacemaker, as he was, the man on the Cross bringing the peace of the empty grave.