I assume that you are well aware of the fact that this is not a peaceful world.  It has not been for a long time nor does it look like it will be anytime soon.  Here are a couple of reminders of why I say this.  August of 2014, 18 year-old Michael Brown died during an encounter with police officer Darren Wilson.  In the following days, months and years, riots erupted that tore Ferguson, MO and other communities apart.  Almost 6 years later, May of 2020, George Floyd dies under the knee of police officer Derek Chauvin.  Minneapolis erupted along with other cities in all 50 states and across the world.  In total, over $1 billion dollars in insurance losses occurred.  A few months later, August of 2020, Jacob Blake refused to listen to police commands to drop a knife.  He was shot seven times.  Kenosha citizens rioted for several nights burning down a police precinct, 100 cars on a car lot, a gas station, and more.  The violence also left two men dead and another wounded from an encounter with a young vigilante.  We did not learn much from this and after the 2020 presidential election, between 2,000 to 2,500 people stormed the capital building hoping to force congress to overturn the election results.  We are not a peaceful people; it does not seem like our leaders are trying to lead us toward the goal of peace.

The prophets of Israel including Micah proclaimed a king would come.  He would be the Son of the Most High in the line of David and he would bring to an end war and strife.  He would cause people to “beat their swords into plowshares, their spears into pruning hooks.”  Micah envisioned a king who would shepherd God’s people, feed them, make them secure, and bring them to ultimate peace.  And because of this, “nation would no longer be at war with nation, neither would they learn war anymore.”  Instead, the kingdom of the Son of the Most High would come and “of his kingdom there will be no end.”  Jesus as the embodiment of this started the journey for humanity to eventually experience the ultimate peace of God.  He also instructed his disciples to be peacemakers.  Each generation of disciples since has been tasked with carrying through on this vision of peace.

We all know that we cannot rely on world leaders or systems to deliver peace.  These systems are fueled more by conflict; they profit off chaos and turmoil.  We also know that we, the community of faith, wait for the second Advent of God’s son.  In between, we are called by God to follow Jesus’ example in our words and deeds.  We are to be peacemakers.  To do this, it means that we will have to “beat our swords into plowshares, our spears into pruning hooks.”  Anything that we write, type, or say that adds to strife and chaos needs to be re-fashioned for peace.  We need to begin small and look at how we interact with our family, neighbors, and community.  We need to continue Jesus’ vision of each of us being peacemakers in our words and deeds.

I invite you to take time and read each of the scriptures above followed by reflection on the questions below.  Assess what it means for you to “beat your sword into a plowshare, your spear into a pruning hook.”  Lastly, I pray that God bless the reading of God’s Word and the meditations of your heart.