This Easter season, the media headlines are especially dire.
– 18 million people in Sudan face severe food insecurity, with little access to humanitarian aid, much of it unknown to us.
-More than 100,000 Armenians were forced to flee their history, culture, and homeland.
-Hundreds of thousands of Russians and Ukrainians have been killed, killed, and injured in an endless war of aggression.
– Gaza, Israel, and the entire region are once again torn apart by intergenerational violence, captivity, suffering, death, and retaliation.
-The average global temperature is on the rise by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Add to these headlines the long road to dismantling and undoing the deep-seated history of discrimination, prejudice, racism, marginalization, assimilation, and injustice that persists here, as well as a military that is fueled by the myth that violence brings peace and security. In addition, the increase in
During the season of Lent, we can be found guilty as accomplices. Through this period of introspection and repentance, we may also be prompted by a desire to create a clean heart, to live for love rather than hate, and for hope rather than fear.
Let us not lose this clarity of attitude and action as we face the light of Easter morning. In fact, the Easter message acts as a catalyst, rather than a solution or restraint, in our efforts toward peace.
This year, as Easter approaches, we can rely on Jesus‘ We teach the Beatitudes as a ladder to peacebuilding as we aim for love, hope, renewal, and resurrection.
Consider the meditation below.
Reading from the Beatitudes (Matthew 5 NRSV)
Disappointed by the large number of images
depicting war,
The captives and the uprooted,
Horrified by increasingly deadly weapon systems,
I was stunned when I saw the houses that were crumbling down.
Fearful of hatred and prejudice,
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Stricken with sadness,
weakened by distance,
confused and perplexed;
furious,
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Love your neighbors, love your land,
and our world,
carry out daily work,
generous and generous;
take care of yourself and your loved ones,
and ecosystem,
Blessed are the meek,
For they will inherit the earth.
Show kindness,
Working for justice and dignity
and everyone has human rights,
We are working on climate and environment,
denounce injustice;
Standing up against violence and supporting victims,
Blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty
for justice,
Because they will be fulfilled.
When I turn the other cheek,
Going one step further,
Crossing the line of difference,
Listen deeply to understand
Letting go of things that are important to us,
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will receive mercy.
In search of clarity
Open your heart,
carrying each other‘hopes and dreams,
changed by love,
Walking with the Creator
Blessed are the pure in heart,
Because they will see God.
Rediscovering the lost unity,
learn to believe,
reparations and restoration;
Building a culture of peace, truth and reconciliation,
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.
It’s never over,
Never be complacent,
always empty yourself,
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake‘ Liquor,
For the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Beatitudes as a ladder to peace
Inspired by the writings of Jim Forrest, a lay theologian and founder of Catholic Peace Fellowship and Orthodox Peace Fellowship, this ladder analogy describes the Beatitudes as rungs on a ladder. The ladder analogy encourages us to see things not as a random list or simple order, but as each culminating in the next and enabling the next rung on the ladder.
Achieving peace is the penultimate rung of the ladder (Matthew 5:9).
How does the peacemaking ladder analogy help us understand new meaning to the Beatitudes and the journey to peace and peacemaking?
Jim Forest writes that the Beatitudes ladder is also the story of Jesus.‘ Life and testimony in the gospel.
How does the parable of the Beatitudes ladder help us understand the entire story told by the Gospel authors Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John?
Prayer from Psalm 51
create within me [us] Pure heart, O God,
and put a new and righteous spirit into me [us].
don’t cast me [us] away from your presence
And don’t take away your Holy Spirit from me [us].
please restore me [us] the joy of your salvation,
and lasts inside me [us] ambitious spirit.
*Link to original work
