Continued 👇🏾
✍🏾True Christian Peace
According to Christian teaching, peace is not achieved by destroying or silencing one side, but by living together in love. Our fathers taught that peace is built through love, and this love is revealed in Jesus Christ, the God of peace.
Even while enduring suffering, Christ did not speak evil, and the apostles did not answer insult with insult. They taught love through endurance. Yet today, as Saint Paul said:
“They do not know the way of peace.”(Romans 3:17)
We have wasted much time in arguments, turning even the Church into a place of conflict. While doing so, when do we find time to serve peacefully? When we criticize a servant of God while he lives and praise him only after his death, this does not create peace. If we love people while they are alive, peace will grow among us.
Even if we cannot become apostles of peace like the ancient Fathers, we must at least avoid destroying peace.
✍🏾Reconcilers – “Gebaryane Selam” (ገባርያነ ሰላም)
The Gë`ëz phrase “Gebaryane Selam” is often translated into Amharic as “reconcilers.” While this captures part of its meaning, it does not fully express the richness of the original term.
The role of Gebaryane Selam is not limited to reconciliation. It includes:
1. Strengthening peace by establishing love.
2. Restoring peace when it is lost, through reconciliation.
3. Preserving peace after it is restored, working diligently to prevent further conflict.
Thus, the term is best understood as “those who make peace.” Peace is not automatic; it requires understanding, heartfelt willingness, and spiritual commitment, and it can only be achieved through prayer and dedicated service.
✍🏾When teaching His disciples about their apostolic mission, our Lord said:
“When you enter a house, greet it. If it is worthy (and if a child of peace is there), let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.”(Matthew 10:13; Luke 10:6)
Whoever receives a messenger sent by God will receive peace from God. This peace is not only for the individual but also flows outward, creating unity of spirit with others.
✍🏾The Apostle Saint Paul writes to the Ephesians:
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”(Ephesians 4:3)
The unity of the Spirit is sustained through peaceful worship, peaceful service, and peaceful living.
Our Lord also taught:
“Have salt in yourselves, and have peace among yourselves.”(Mark 9:50)This highlights that peace is essential for Christian life and the unity of the Spirit.
✍🏾We conclude this lesson on peacemaking with the words of Saint Paul:
👉🏾“May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.”(2 Thessalonians 3:16)
And again:
👉🏾“Finally, brothers, rejoice, be perfected, listen to my exhortation, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
(2 Corinthians 13:11)
part 43 Continues ...
May the name of the Holy God be praised forever and ever in every tongue that He has created, today and always.
May the blessings of God's mother, the virgin, and the cross be upon us.
Amen.
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