THE WORD: Working for the Prince of Peace

A blood moon rises above Christ the Redeemer statue during a lunar eclipse seen from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. It's also the year's first supermoon, when a full moon appears a little bigger and brighter thanks to its closer distance to Earth. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

The pure of heart, the sixth of the Beatitudes, are cleansed by the sacrifice of Jesus. The seventh Beatitude, the peacemakers, are the logical next step from the cleansing power of salvation.

The peacemakers are those who live in peace with others and work to preserve peace. Peace is one of the mantles of Christ. Isaiah 9:6 tells us that Jesus will be called “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

The peacemakers are able to achieve their own peace and work towards peace in the community and broader world because of the blessings of Christ. Peacemakers are reconciled with God and are charged to share that reconciliation with others. 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 reminds us that God, through Jesus, reconciled the world to himself, “committed unto us the word of reconciliation” and “now then we are ambassadors for Christ.”

MATTHEW 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.