Sunday October 25, 2015
Week 4
The Scripture ~ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9
The Spiritual Focus ~ “The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of all kinds.” Attributed to the Dalai Lama
The Devotion ~ One of the places where faith and yoga connect is in the belief that we are called to live peaceably together. In the Sermon on the Mount, the place where our scripture for meditation is located, Jesus states clearly that peacemaking is a blessed activity. Jesus says peacemaking leads to happiness and defines us as children of God. It is the world that will see us as children of God when we practice peacemaking.
Peacemaking is no small task. We begin in prayer asking God to guide our thoughts, our words and our actions toward peace. We look for opportunities to bring peace, especially in extreme, binary (either/or) situations. Sometimes that means being quiet, sometimes that means offering an olive branch. Sometimes peacemaking can only be practiced and witnessed by our actions. One who speaks of peace but does not do the hard work personally to live peaceably, misses an opportunity to witness to the world what it is to be called a child of God.
When we speak of action, we can be easily overwhelmed. Begin gently, mindfully and on your mat. Meditate on a scripture about peace. Then pick one area in your life that offers you the opportunity to be a peacemaker, remain open to how God would have you act. Remember you are a child of God no matter what, the world will see that as you practice, peacemaking.
