The Problem with Peacemaking

Word from Wiese

18 October 2023

Gut-wrenching. Soul-sickening. Horrendous. Demoralizing. Enraging. Deeply unsettling.

For many of us, the horror perpetrated on Jews in the Holy Land by the Hamas terrorist organization last Saturday, October 7 rattled us like few events before in our entire lives.

As we shared before Sunday services, Pastor Miriam and I have contacted our friends at B’Nai Israel, the Jewish congregation over in Fayetteville to extend our love, support, and care. Likewise, we’ve been in touch with Palestinian Lutheran, Elias Nawawieh, who organized both wonderful trips COS disciples took to the Holy Land this year, to share similar expressions of love, support, and care. While Elias lives in Atlanta now to help American congregations plan trips, his mother and extended family still live in Bethlehem (in the West Bank) where our COS faith pilgrims stayed for several days of our Holy Land pilgrimages.

Thanks so much for your participation in the devoted time of prayer we offered at the beginning of our Sunday services for all the Jews whose lived were horrifically upended as well as all the Palestinians who quickly pack baby formula or medications into bags as they rush to flee south, but very uncertain of what awaits. Unspeakable suffering sweeps upon so many innocents in the Holy Land and our hearts break.

By the time you read this, I’m not sure what the latest developments will be.

But amid all the coverage and analyses with which we’re trying to keep up, let me offer the words of Jesus: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5.9)

I understand that the “cat (of violence) is out of the bag” at this point in the Middle East, Ukraine, and in other regions of the world. We understand that at this point in the process, Israeli forces will at some point move into Gaza in order to rescue hostages and pursue Hamas. More violence is surely inevitable.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel helpless watching events like these unfold. But then I remember that as a baptized child of God, the Lord gives me a job to do: be a peacemaker! “Well, Lord,” I might argue, “doesn’t that sound like a platitude totally irrelevant to the pain and violence in the Holy Land right now?”

But the Holy Spirit might gently nudge me into realizing that the events of today (in my life as well as those in the Holy Land) are fruit of seeds that have been sown throughout the months, years, and even decades before. While it’s never too late to strive for peace, the “problem” or challenge with peacemaking is that such efforts hold most potential when people and issues were more pliable and “in process.” So let me be a peacemaker today!

Top football players and coaches state boldly at press conferences:“I want to get better. We didn’t perform like we want to today and that begins with me.”
Dynamic employees of businesses who are looking for improvement in their company don’t start by blaming others.They say, “It begins with me.”
I remember a song growing up we sang at church sometimes.Maybe it was pollyannish. But maybe it captured Jesus’ instruction to us: “Let there be peace on earth. And let it begin with me.”

So, I don’t know about you. But in these dark days of world violence, I’m going to ask the Holy Spirit’s help. That I live out Jesus’ hope of me, to be a peacemaker.

Here is what I’m going to be asking myself:

When someone frustrates me, can I take a deep breath and at least count to 10 (or maybe even sleep on it) before I say something that is damaging to our relationship?
In his explanation of the 8^th Commandment, Martin Luther teaches “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” not only implies not lying about your neighbor, but speaking well of her!!! I’m going to listen to what comes out of my mouth and make sure I’m speaking well of everyone. (Didn’t mom instruct, “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t’ say anything at all”? Note: tonight I’m teaching our confirmands about the 10 Commandments, so I’m thinking about these things.)
If Jesus wants me to love my neighbor as I love myself, can I take inventory of those around me?Is there a difficult challenge someone else faces that I would never want to face myself? If so, what can I do to soften the blow for my neighbor or improve their situation? (Isn’t that what loving my neighbor means?)
Do I exacerbate situations by withholding forgiveness and clutching on to grudges?
Can I share smiles, good wishes, and compliments more freely along my daily route?We never know what kind of day/week someone else is enduring. And sometimes just a little love goes a long way.

Well, friends, that’s my list for the moment. I’ll certainly pray for the Holy Land, among other places, this week. I’m encouraged the United States is trying to ensure plans to minimize further suffering of innocents. But meanwhile, I’m going to try to lean into Jesus’ request to me to be a peacemaker, right where I am. Maybe Jesus knows the seeds of peace I help sow today will bear wonderful fruit tomorrow as well.

How about you? If you have any suggestions for peacemaking, I’d love to hear them. Send me a note.

Praying and peacemaking with you,

Pastor Fritz

Let us pray.

Dear heavenly Father, your people throughout time have had to endure the pain and horror of war. Yet your Word casts a vision of bending swords into plowshares. Your Son, known as the Prince of Peace, calls us to be peacemakers. While we take hope you are with every Israeli and Palestinian whose hearts are breaking right now, come into our hearts, too, so that we beat with the desire to be makers, architects, and constructors of peace wherever we go. In Jesus’ hope, Amen.