“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” – Matthew 5:9

Years ago, when I was not even married myself, I was approached by a young couple that had a serious conflict in their marriage.

They intimated to me how every effort to resolve the matter had failed, so they were trying me as a “last resort.”

After a highly emotive afternoon that involved shouting, tears and prayer, the couple left.

Early last year, I visited a church.

After the service, a lady whose face looked familiar came to greet me.

She reminded me how I had saved their marriage – more than 20 years ago!

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God,” says the Lord in our meditation today.

A ‘peacemaker’ is someone who actively works to bring peace and harmony, not just in the sense of preventing conflict but also in promoting reconciliation, justice, and harmony among people.

It suggests someone who intentionally seeks to make peace, often in situations of division, strife, or violence.

A cursory look at families, communities, society and the globe, shows how the world desperately needs peacemakers to deal with conflict, feuds, tension and disharmony in political, social, economic and even religious settings.

Even a child doesn’t need to live long to recognize that so much war, so much strife, so much pain exists in our world.

Indeed, peacemaking is not merely optional in Christianity but represents a core principle and practical mandate.

When Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” He was emphasizing the importance of promoting peace and reconciliation in a world filled with conflict, hate and division.

That implies that peacemaking is central to the Christ mission in the world – an essential aspect of Christian identity.

Our Lord commands us to go as peacemakers into a world that is ugly with violence and hate; first to reconcile people with God and then with one another.

The Bible says Jesus Himself paid the ultimate price in order to “make peace between man and God.”

Also, ‘Prince of Peace’ is one of Jesus’ names.

“Anyone, you inclusive, can become a peacemaker”

So, He teaches us that those who work towards ensuring peace, accord and harmony among people would be “blessed” and would be described as the true “children of God.”

This ‘blessing’ is not just a future reward but also a present reality, as peacemakers experience the invaluable joy and fulfillment that comes from bringing people together and resolving conflicts.

As children of God, we must reflect His character and promote peace in our relationships, communities, and world.

By playing an active role in fostering peace and unity, the peacemaker reflects God’s character.

Mark you; peacemakers are not born; they are made!

Anyone, you inclusive, can become a peacemaker.

However, it’s a journey – a worthwhile one – that requires patience, practice, and persistence.

Start with mastering the basics and gradually build your skills through regular practice and real-world application.

One of the tools I was happy to get exposed to a few years ago, was the ‘G.R.O.W’ model for problem-solving:

Goal: What do we want to achieve? Reality: What’s the current situation? Options: What possibilities exist? Way Forward: What specific actions shall we take?

Participate in training and read widely about peace and conflict resolution. Read about successful peacemakers such Kofi Anan, Martin Luther King, Desmond Tutu, among others.

Start with personal conflicts in low-stakes situations and then gradually increase complexity to a stage where you can reconcile warring nations at the global level.

You will be blessed!