In our post last week, we learned about what it means to be pure in heart. Now we continue with our series on the Beatitudes with blessing number 7: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God” (Matt. 5:9). In the Orthodox phronema, what is peace? What does it mean to make peace, and why does this trait in particular make someone a son of God? Read on to find out!
Check back next week for our post on the eighth beatitude!
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The fall of Adam and Eve brought with it the severing of humanity’s union with God. Not only that, but it also alienated us from one another. But because our God is Peace and Love, He became man and sacrificed Himself for our sins. He granted us that pathway toward reconciliation with Him (Col. 1:20), toward salvation, and He has become our peace (Eph. 2:14). For He says: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
What is a peacemaker?
When Christ came, He founded on earth the Kingdom of Heaven, the most essential features of which are righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17). It is this peace which St Paul considers one of the “fruits of the Holy Spirit” (Gal 5.22); the “peace of God which passes all understanding” (Phil 4.7). It is “the liberation from passions, which cannot be attained without the action of the Holy Spirit” (Saint Mark the Ascetic, 4th c., Two Centuries on Spiritual Law).
Related: Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit
The peacemakers, therefore, are those who have the peace of God in themselves and spread this peace to those around them. Blessed are the peacemakers because they are free from all anxiety and fear (cf. Mt 6:25–33; Jn 14:27). This does not mean they never suffer misfortune, loss, or illness. But even in the most terrible of circumstances, they do not fear or worry. In fact, they will take up their cross and give up their very life for the Lord, should it be His will.
The peacemaker is one who lives peaceably with all men, to the greatest extent he is capable (Romans 12:18). Blessed are the peacemakers who foster harmony where there is conflict, reconciliation where there is enmity. He does not deny the Lord or compromise His truth by the exercise of violence, but bears witness by his own peace in the midst of conflict, the peace which is “not as the world gives” (Jn 14.27). Thus, the peacemaker does not provoke others to irritation or violence, except by the truth and love of his life, and leaves all vengeance to the Lord. He is the one who follows Christ in overcoming evil with good.
Why is making peace so important?
St. Paul summons all believers to seek peace in God (Rom. 15:33; 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:20-21). For when we establish inner peace in our hearts with God’s help, we rekindle the link between our heart and others’, which expresses itself in unity of word, spirit, and thought (1 Cor. 1:10). We must seek and strive for such peace (1 Pet. 3:11), and cherish it as we call upon the Lord from a pure heart (2 Tim. 2:22).
Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ insists upon the need for peace among us. He says, “If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; and first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift (Matt. 5:23-25). Reconciliation is so important that we cannot approach the Eucharist without first having made amends with those who grieve us.
To further illustrate the importance of making peace, the Lord says: “If any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles (Matt. 5:40-41). In other words, our goal is to do whatever possible to prevent the link between our heart and another person’s from being broken. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they exemplify this teaching.
For they shall be called the sons of God
Those who make peace as the Lord commands them will become closest to Him, heirs according to the promise. They will be joint heirs with Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are the peacemakers because they resemble the Only-begotten Son of God, Who came to earth to reconcile sinful people with Divine judgment and establish peace among people in place of the animosity reigning among them. Therefore to the peacemakers, the Lord promises the epithet, “sons of God,” and inexpressible blessedness.
Read More: Receiving The Holy Spirit: Chrismation In The Orthodox Church