To be a peacemaker, go higher

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). This is possibly the best known of the beautiful assurances, since known as the Beatitudes, that begin Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Each beatitude shares a spiritual quality that leads to blessings that include a deep happiness, peace, and well-being. But what does it mean to be a peacemaker?

According to Noah Webster’s 1828 “American Dictionary of the English Language,” the definition of “peace” includes “a state of quiet or tranquility; freedom from disturbance or agitation,” “freedom from internal commotion,” “harmony; concord,” and “heavenly rest.” So peace must be genuinely felt within; an outward appearance of calm and peace is not enough. We cannot be effective peacemakers for others until we feel peace and harmony ourselves.

Christ Jesus surely had this pure sense of peace. Jesus’ lifework gave us clear examples of being a peacemaker and exhibiting spiritual qualities. He saved a woman from a group that felt she deserved to be stoned, and walked unharmed himself through a hateful crowd intending to stone him (see John 8:3-11 and Luke 4:28-30). He had to have kept his thought on God, not letting fear, self-righteousness, or anger enter in.

A sentence from “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mary Baker Eddy also brings a new perspective on peace: “The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace” (p. 506). The word “and” really strikes me. Thought needs to be both calm and exalted.

In order to achieve this, we need to lift thought to see others as Jesus would have seen them: in their true, spiritual nature as the likeness of our creator, God. And we can’t see just friends and family this way. The Apostle Paul admonished us, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). But how can this be done in the face of turmoil, hatred, and division?

An experience I had several years ago illustrates the importance of exalted thought when faced with conflict. I was a teacher of emotionally disturbed students. Part of my responsibilities included working closely with the families of the students, and that was often the most challenging part of my job.

While I was on maternity leave, I was asked to attend a meeting to address a contentious issue regarding one of the students. Both the parents and the principal wanted me in attendance for support.

I have to admit that at first I was not enthused about this. As I tried to justify reasons not to attend, these words from Jesus came to mind: “I must be about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:49). I realized that the most important thing I could do every day was to serve God, which meant to me that I should promote peace. It was clear that this peacemaking included attending that meeting.

I knew I had to consciously exalt my thought to a spiritual view of everyone involved – a view that helped me to love the student, his family, and the school personnel on the basis of each one’s true spiritual nature. By the time I entered the school for the meeting, I felt inner peace and joy instead of resentment. And the meeting was harmonious.

All issues were discussed thoughtfully and resolved. The principal pulled me aside afterward to thank me and to say that my very presence had made all the difference. I knew without a doubt that it was not my presence, but rather the Christ – the healing, divine Love that Christ Jesus demonstrated – that had brought peace.

In order to bring peace and healing today, it is our duty and privilege to follow in Christ Jesus’ footsteps by lifting our thought to God. We can do this by relying on God, good, for natural ways forward. The Christ enables us to look at others with true, spiritual love, free of personal opinions, perspectives, or agendas.

We can bring peace to a situation by understanding God, divine Love, which nullifies fear, anger, and hatred, and enables all involved to feel and experience God’s lovingkindness. This state of thought is surely what the prophet Isaiah spoke of when he said of God, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3). How much more peaceful our thoughts are when we trust any situation to God rather than to ourselves.

Adapted from an article published in the Nov. 15, 2021, issue of the Christian Science Sentinel.