Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 5:1-12 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 5When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Verse 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
Verse 3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Verse 4"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Verse 5"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Verse 6"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Verse 7"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Verse 8"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Verse 9"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Verse 10"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Verse 11"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Verse 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Devotion
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9 (NRSV)
The United States is a country possessed with an incredible capacity to make war. Despite the terrorist attacks of 9-11-01, our military might makes us feel secure from our enemies. We wage war with a certainty that we will win.
But what if we were to wage peace with equal determination? What would happen if we used our vast technological, material and human resources to attack the causes of war, rather than our enemies? Should our slavish devotion to protecting our standard of living mean more to us than our calling to be peacemakers, the children of God?