Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:9
The only way to be a peacemaker is to experience the peace of God.
Modern views of peace can miss the proper understanding of this beatitude. We can view peace as the absence of war or strife. The Hebrew word is shalom, indicating a wholistic wellbeing, the welfare of self and others, including interpersonal relationships.
This is offered not to the peacelovers, but to the peace makers. We can love peace so much that we fail to address issues that would lead to the lack of peace. By failing to act in ways that may be uncomfortable, we are actually making scenarios that lack peace and cause further difficulties.
Called sons of God – they will be acknowledged as, or shall be recognized as. To be a son of something means that you reflect and bear the characteristics of that thing (i.e. Barnabas is a “son of consolation”, James & John are “sons of thunder”).
Another way to read this beatitude could be “Blessed are those who produce right relationships in every sphere of life, for they are doing God-like work.”
