Blessed peacemakers

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Matthew 5:9

     I would like to share with you an ancient, beautiful face of Christ that war; injustice, hatred, betrayal and violence cannot remove from the world. It is the face of Jesus found on an ancient Russian icon painted by the famous 15th century artist, Andrei Rublev. The icon offers us a compassionate face of Christ, titled the Peacemaker, located in a Moscow museum (http://www.geocities.com/russian_icons/rublev.htm).

     To gaze into this beautiful face is to see the face of God. To look into these compassionate eyes, is to experience the kindness and unlimited goodness and love of God, through the tender face of Christ. It is a face full of love and strength, offering courage and comfort. This holy face reminds us of God's deep compassion for a suffering humanity and is worthy of contemplation for people from all countries and walks of life. In gazing at the ultimate Prince of Peace, you will find direction, strength, solace, courage and hope in your times of need wherever you are in Zimbabwe.

     Someday the lion and the lamb will peacefully coexist (Isaiah 65:25), and God will dwell permanently in our midst. There will be no more sin, crying, pain or death in that new creation. Until that day however, we who have chosen to follow Christ the Peacemaker, are called by God to live as peacemakers in a world full of anarchy, terrorism, violence, hatred and lawlessness.

     As a blessed child of God, generously share your peace with others at home, at work, with friend and foe, including even the stranger on the street. Reconciling division, bitterness, strife, and "divide and conquer mentalities" is not an easy calling. But "there is no more godlike work to be done in this world than peacemaking" (Broadus).

     The word peacemaker used by Jesus comes from two Greek words, eirene (peace) and poieo (to make). Eirene is found in every New Testament book with the exception of 1 John and Acts. It is used to describe harmonious relationships between people and nations, and signifies friendship and freedom from molestation. Peace brings a sense of rest and contentment and is one of the signs of a healthy spiritual life (Galatians 5:22). As we read the gospels, Jesus is the supreme Peacemaker, making peace between God and humanity, and reconciling people, healing even the bitterest of relationships and the most deeply seated grudges and hatreds.

     He is the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6) and as his followers, we serve a God of peace (Romans 15:33; 16:20; Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20).

     During these difficult and heartbreaking days in Zimbabwe, turn your eyes upon Jesus, our ultimate Peacemaker. Gaze full in his wonderful face and you will learn the ways of God's peace for the world. Follow in his steps as a blessed peacemaker and Christ will use you in the healing of Zimbabwe.

     Prayer: God of peace, bless us all with the image of Christ the Peacemaker for the healing of Zimbabwe. Amen.

Written by Rev. Dr. Sandy Bochonok
http://soulfoodministry.org
September 3, 2002
Permission is given to freely distribute and share this reflection with the people of Zimbabwe.