“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of
God.” Matthew 5:9
This coming Monday our country
will pause for a national holiday honoring Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. King was a Baptist minister from Atlanta
who became a leader of the civil rights movement of the 1960s and who advocated
non-violent resistance to the system of laws that oppressed black people in America . While there were many 20th century
influences that led him to embrace non-violent resistance, the foundation for
all of them was the teaching of Jesus Christ.
The world has always been a
violent place from the day that Cain rose up and slew his brother Abel to the
latest spasm of violence in the Middle East . Men and women have always found it easier to
lash out at those whom they see as enemies rather than meet violence or the
threat of violence with peace and calm - and a determination not to
retaliate. It takes far more courage,
strength, and dignity to do this than to hit back. Martin Luther King, Jr. learned this from
Jesus.
Jesus said, “You have heard that
it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you…..if anyone strikes you on
the right check, turn to him the other also……You have heard that it was said,
‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray
for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in
heaven.” (Matthew 5:38-45) When Pontius Pilate sent soldiers to arrest
Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
But it has been hard for others
to practice what Jesus preached. Men
like Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela are few and far
between, and are often noted for the exception they are to the average leader
of a great mass movement. If the world
is ever to know peace, it is a lesson that must be learned. On January 1st Pope Francis taught
the way of Jesus in his address for the World Day of Peace. He said, “I appeal forcefully to all those
who sow violence and death by force of arms: in the person you today see simply
as an enemy to be beaten, discover rather your brother or sister, and hold back
your hand! Give up the way of arms and
go out to meet the other in dialogue, pardon, and reconciliation, in order to
rebuild justice, trust, and hope around you!”
As we move farther into 2014 let
us all resolve to be peacemakers by resisting the impulse to retaliate and
working for peace in our homes, on our streets, and throughout the world. It’s the better way. It’s the blessed way. It’s the Jesus way.
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