Today, Selwyn continues to consider the seventh beatitude: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God’ (Matthew 5:9).
He takes us through one of his personal reflections: ” … being a peacemaker has been one of my greatest concerns and a major goal in my life”: he then talks about how he would like to be remembered, being aware of his pending death – and, that he would be very happy,  if he had the words; ‘He was a peacemaker’, on his memorial stone.
He goes on to say: “Being a peacemaker can be hazardous, especially when you are attempting to bring about a reconciliation and the opposing sides end up turning on you. But it’s necessary to take that risk if breaches are to be repaired. … everyone (who has a relationship with Jesus – my addition) can be a peacemaker. The mother who helps resolve the arguments and disturbances that take place in the family, is such a person. Stay alert. God may use you as a peacemaker this very day.”
Today’s prayer: “My Father and my God, can it be that I have missed opportunities to be a peacemaker because I have not been alert? If so, forgive me and help me not to miss an opportunity in the future. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
You often hear about the ‘power of one’ and I think that in the same way – being a peacemaker has a multiplying effect. People who work to produce peaceful outcomes, help build peaceful communities; and, the political representatives of such people can take the same spirit of peace to their respective negotiating tables – at the various levels of government.
It first starts with a relationship with Jesus which brings internal peace to the individual; then with the help of the Holy Spirit this peace flows outwards like a spring of living water that can’t help but change the way we relate to other people. In summary, it’s an act of our free will to allow our peace to flow to others or to turn the flow off. If we are prepared to share our peace with others; then the Holy Spirit will help us to be alert to the opportunities for us to be peacemakers – do you agree?
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Repairing the breach
Today, Selwyn continues to consider the seventh beatitude: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God’ (Matthew 5:9).
He takes us through one of his personal reflections: ” … being a peacemaker has been one of my greatest concerns and a major goal in my life”: he then talks about how he would like to be remembered, being aware of his pending death – and, that he would be very happy,  if he had the words; ‘He was a peacemaker’, on his memorial stone.
He goes on to say: “Being a peacemaker can be hazardous, especially when you are attempting to bring about a reconciliation and the opposing sides end up turning on you. But it’s necessary to take that risk if breaches are to be repaired. … everyone (who has a relationship with Jesus – my addition) can be a peacemaker. The mother who helps resolve the arguments and disturbances that take place in the family, is such a person. Stay alert. God may use you as a peacemaker this very day.”
Today’s prayer: “My Father and my God, can it be that I have missed opportunities to be a peacemaker because I have not been alert? If so, forgive me and help me not to miss an opportunity in the future. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
You often hear about the ‘power of one’ and I think that in the same way – being a peacemaker has a multiplying effect. People who work to produce peaceful outcomes, help build peaceful communities; and, the political representatives of such people can take the same spirit of peace to their respective negotiating tables – at the various levels of government.
It first starts with a relationship with Jesus which brings internal peace to the individual; then with the help of the Holy Spirit this peace flows outwards like a spring of living water that can’t help but change the way we relate to other people. In summary, it’s an act of our free will to allow our peace to flow to others or to turn the flow off. If we are prepared to share our peace with others; then the Holy Spirit will help us to be alert to the opportunities for us to be peacemakers – do you agree?
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