7th June 2022
The way of peace
“Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”
Matthew 5:9 (NKJV)
The Knife Angel is the name of a sculpture built from knives and other weapons handed to the police in amnesties, or taken from people who carry them. The sculpture is presently displayed in the centre of Corby, a town about eight miles from my home. The YouTube link will take you to a short video explaining the origin of the sculpture, in an interview with its creator:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEdy0TLI0G8
There are horrific stories of knives used as weapons, bringing death to the streets of our towns, sometimes by children. Young people often carry knives because they say it makes them feel safer. And knives are not the only weapons that bring death to everyday lives. Recently there was news of yet another school shooting in America, with 21 killed – 19 of them children.
Right from the time when Cain decided to kill Abel; through all the wars documented in the Old Testament; through the violence and cruelty of the Roman Empire – showcased in the gratuitous violence against Christ at his crucifixion; through the wars documented in the history learned in school; through the 1st and 2nd World Wars; and now in Ukraine, man has shown himself to live up to Paul’s summary in the book of Romans where he speaks of the human condition, using words from the prophet Isaiah: “Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known.” (Romans 3:15-17)
Contrast this with the promises of what God’s future holds for us – when that part of the Lord’s prayer is fulfilled: “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Luke 11:2)
Revelation, the final chapter in the Bible, is a book of deep contrasts, with violence and war dominating the earlier chapters whereas the final chapters provide a graphic picture of peace and a sense of relief. It’s the kind of relief that must have been felt by many in Britain when an unconditional surrender ended the 2nd World War in Europe, and there would be no more bombs. Celebrations on VE day – a national holiday declared with less than 24 hours’ notice – had scenes of wild rejoicing. Revelation 21 is all of this, and more. Verses 1-4 describe a ‘new heaven and a new earth’ and the passing away of ‘the former things’ like war, knife crime, school shootings and poverty.
The Holy Spirit is a spirit of, amongst other things, peace (Galatians 5:22). And we can, in each of our lives, live in peace with those we are brought into contact with – living out this promised future now – “on earth as it is in heaven.”
Prayer
Father, we pray that we may, through your spirit, be agents of peace to those we meet, today and every day. Amen.
Study by Maggie Mitchell
About the writer:
Maggie Mitchell attends the Northampton congregation of Grace Communion International and is Chair of the Pastoral Council
Local congregation:
GCI Northampton
Ecton Village Hall
78A High Street
Ecton
Northampton
NN6 0QB
Meeting time:
Saturday 11.00am
Local congregational contact:
Maggie Mitchell
Email: maggie.mitchell@btinternet.com
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church