The Blessing of "Like Father, Like Son"

"Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the sons of God"

Matthew 5:9

In America we have saying – “Like father, like son.”  It means that you see the parent reflected in the child.  I can look at Linda and her sister and see they are sisters.   Sometimes Linda or Kari will get a look on their face and I would swear I was looking at their mother.  In one of my previous parishes there was a staff member and his son who were like that.  They looked alike.  They walked alike.  They often sounded alike. They had similar mannerisms. You could just see the father reflected in the son. In other words – “Like Father, like son.”

Understand that and you will understand this week’s Beatitude.  “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the sons of God.”  To be a peacemaker in this world is clear reflection of our Father in heaven.  To make peace is why He gave His Son. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting men’s sins against them.”  To be a peacemaker is to reflect in our lives our elder brother Jesus.  After all Paul writes about Jesus that “He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…”  The wall of hostility he refers to is the wall in the temple of Jerusalem that separated the court of the Gentiles from the part of the Temple only Jews were allowed to enter.  That wall came to represent the hatred Jews and Gentiles held for one another.  Jesus came to destroy that wall “by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”  Reconciled to God in Christ… adopted to be sons and daughters of God – our lives can not help but reflect Him.  Like Father, like son… like daughter. 

Can you think of any place in this world where peacemakers are not needed right now?  I can’t.  War in the Middle East.  Terrorists blowing up trains in St. Petersburg.  Nuclear danger on the Korean Peninsula.  Politicians at war with each other in Washington, in Britain, in every capital… animosity between friendsover politics.  Or what about in the home - Divorce.  Kids and parents, husbands and wives who can’t figure out how to talk to one another.  Even here at Church.  Trinity is a miracle to me because of all the different cultures that worship together in this place – 15 different countries, 4 continents, multiple languages and cultures.  Yes we get along!  This is the place where God intends do His peacemaking work.  Yet because we are sinners, we clash.  Some times its cultural.  One person being very direct… because that is her culture.  Another being offended because that’s not the way it works in her culture.  The point is – everywhere peacemakers are needed  . 

But how?  The reason that young man was so like his dad, is that he was watching his dad.  What can we learn from our Father?  How did our brother Jesus make peace?  He didn’t manipulate.  He didn’t coerce.  He didn’t force.  He didn’t demand.  Jesus did not seek to impose Himself on them.  Instead He surrendered Himself to them.  He refused to answer their false charges.  He wouldn’t fight when they arrested Him.  He didn’t call for reinforcements when they whipped Him, beat Him and crowned Him with thorns.  He simply went to that cross to suffer and die for the sins of the world.  St. Paul said it so well in His letter to the Philippians.  Jesus, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 

That’s how you make peace.  You listen.  You serve.  You love – do all that even for those who only want to hate, or get angry or lash out.  I will give you one example – a husband whose wife wanted him out of her life.  She booted him out the door.  She divorced him.  What did he do?  He kept on loving her.  He didn’t force himself on her.  He didn’t try to coerce her into staying.  He honored her wish even though it hurt.  |Yet whenever she needed him, he was there.  He got her car fixed for her.  He picked up the kids whenever she needed him.  He listened when she wanted to talk.  When she didn’t want to talk… or she didn’t want his help… he backed off.  Believe it or not those actions made for peace – Loving, listening, serving. One day after 3 hard years they got back together.  She even started back to church. He made peace by offering to serve, not wanting to be served. Sound like anyone you know?   Like I said - “Like Father, like Son.”  Or in the words of Jesus, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the sons of God.”  Amen!