Sermon

“Idon’t know what the world’s coming to.” I remember older people saying that when I was growing up. Now I find myself wondering along the same lines. The world seems to be a conflicted place; globalised, polarised and destabilised. Our own country is experiencing depths of division that are putting families, communities and friendships under such strains that they threaten the common good of shared and caring communal life.

“Blessed are the peacemakers.” Jesus knew about challenging life skills. Wherever we are there are situations going wrong. People get angry, resentments are verbalised on social media, alliances are formed and though we might not use the word, enemies are made.

Christians serious about following Jesus work hard at being peacemakers, servants of reconciliation, exemplars of forgiveness. Wherever we are, home, office, the checkout, the car park, our default disposition is peacemaker. In places of conflicted hurt we dismantle walls and build bridges:

● by persistent, patient actions of peace;

● by resilient, responsive acts of reconciliation;

● by gentle, gracious words of goodness;

● by faith-filled, faithful prayers of friendship;

● by holy, hopeful, gestures of healing.