Blessed are the Peacemakers

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. Isaiah 9:6

So here we are, some 2000 years since the coming of the prophesied Christ, the Prince of Peace. We've just celebrated the birth of the Christ child, gathered with family and friends, feasted and indulged in commercialism to our hearts (dis)content. Still there is no peace. Where is the foretold peace? In every nook and cranny of the world there is violence and/or war, as there always has been. Humanity's struggle for dominance continues on, blood is shed, lives are senslessly lost. 

Jesus Christ spoke the simple words "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God," yet we remain ignorant of our part in this peaceful kingdom. Have we misunderstood? Have followers of Christ believed the lie that violent means and weaponry can keep us protected and secure? Is not Christ, the Prince of Peace, our rod and staff, our promised Protector? Oh, that we would only believe it and act on it. Many Christians await the return of Christ where he rides in, sets everything right and restores the earth, justice and peace, but what if it's God's intent for us to do it, right here, right now? There are of course Christians who want to establish a Christian nation designed to mandate and enforce Old Testament morality to the masses, but how about we just stick with love, peace, justice and mercy?

What if we went  about building that invisible Kingdom of love, peace and justice that Christ spoke of that's already in our midst? Let's let the light of Divine love and peace shine from our lives. We may not be able to change the whole world with this effort, but we can effect change in our spheres of influence, it grows from there. 

Lord Christ, Prince of Peace, infuse us with your Divine peace and love, give us an understanding of what peace really means, in our faith, our hearts, lives and in our world. Help us to imagine peace and live in peace. In Your Holy Name, So be it.