Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God
Reconciliation
At The Church of the Reconciliation. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself” was engraved in the arch above the sanctuary. It caused me to meditate upon these words of St. Paul.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 NIV
It occurred to me that beyond or at least in coordination with evangelism, reconciliation is our primary ministry. Moreover, in the context of Beatitudes, reconciliation is a synonym for peacemaking. Most families have one member who tends to be the peacemaker. This may be more because they can’t personally stand conflict. Thus, it may be more an act of Codependency. True peacemaking needs to come from that pure heart center and oneness with God.
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter is my favorite example of a peacemaker. He did it hammering nails into a Habitat for Humanity house. He did it on the world stage helping to broker peace talks. His motto is known to be
“My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can.”
Here is another relevant quote
“My position has always been, along with many other people, that any differences can be resolved in a nonviolent way.”
When he was not so engaged, he taught Sunday School.
Kairos
One of the worst witnesses of the church universal is our history of fighting and discord between our various traditions. There have also been many congregations and denominations that have become so divided as to split apart.
The Kairos prison ministry is a shining example in its ability to incorporate members from a wide variety of denominations and traditions. They act this out by agreeing to set aside areas of disagreement. There are no arguments about how much water is necessary for Baptism. There are no discussions about the meaning of communion. Likewise, we agree to emphasize what we all believe: Jesus is Lord. Grace is available. Forgiveness is for all. We can have friendship with God.
The participants at a Kairos sit in table groups of 6 plus 3 team members including one member of the clergy. At one of these tables at one of the Kairos weekends there was one white man with five African Americans. He was a skinhead with Nazi tattoos and tattoos on his elbows of spiderwebs with a fly or two. The flies represented people whom he had killed. His nickname was Spider. Some of us wondered about the wisdom of this combination. However, after three days of Agape love poured out upon them, they became “Brothers in Christ.” They so testified with their closing remarks, mutual hugs and smiles on their faces. They were indeed blessed as we were to witness it.
Promise Keepers
During the height of the Promise Keeper movement, I decided to organize the men from our Episcopal church with the men from Sunflower Baptist. We were decidedly White. They were Black. Their pastor, The Rev. Dr. George Cauthen, is a Kairos friend of mine. In preparation we had joint meetings and a joint fund-raising fish dinner. When we went to Dallas for the event, we paired for hotel rooms with a man from each church. It was a great experience and a witness to our congregations of the possibility for reconciliation.
Forgiveness
An important part of peacekeeping and reconciliation is forgiveness. As you might imagine there is a great emphasis in the Kairos program on forgiveness. On the first night of the weekend one of the clergy gives a meditation on the parable of the prodigal son. We also emphasize that it might be called the parable of the forgiving father. It is about forgiveness and reconciliation between a father and a wayward son. We hope to impart to the participants that they can be reconciled to God no matter what they might have done in their lives.
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Luke 15:11-32 NIV
It is difficult to fully understand the parable without some cultural background. Jesus is telling an outrageous story. It was shocking to those who heard it the first time. He used it to make his point vividly clear. It was outrageous for a son to demand his inheritance. Such disrespect would not be tolerated. It was inconceivable that he would sell that property. Anyone listening would understand that it was sold at a loss. When he leaves home, he goes to a foreign country. This too would be unheard of because a distant country would be among Gentiles. Of course, his behavior there was a disgrace. His failure was complete. To work with pigs, even to eat what they ate was considered an abomination. Consider by contrast the events in Fiddler on the Roof. When Tevia’s daughter marries a gentile, he feels he must disown her. When the son comes to his senses and goes home the father sees him from afar off because he’s been looking for him; hoping for him to come home. Then the father outrageously lifts his robes, showing his knobby old knees, and shamelessly runs to greet him. He unbelievably calls for a fine robe sandals and a ring. Giving of the ring was the equivalent of giving him the family credit card!
The message of the parable is How much more is the loving forgiveness of God.
We can do likewise because we know that God is indeed our forgiving Father. People may even call us Children of God. We are now ready to proceed on The Way to our next Beatitude. Persecution
Questions for reflection and/or discussion
- How have you experienced reconciliation with God?
- Who is the peacemaker in your family?
- Who do you admire for their ability to bring about reconciliation?
- Are there any situations in your life that need reconciliation?