“Blessed [spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor] are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they will [express His character and] be called the sons of God. (Matt 5:9, AMP)

Andrew Klager from Glasgow University, writing for Sojonors Magazine, defines the difference between violence and conflict. “Violence is any action that undermines the dignity of another human being, whether direct, structural, or institutional. This can be emotional, psychological, spiritual, or physical abuse; actions that dehumanize the Other; forms of injustice, oppression, or marginalization; and war, genocide, mob violence, and armed insurrection. But violence is not the same as conflict. Conflict provides the space to air grievances and exposes injustice; nonviolence entails ending conflict by eroding its causes without succumbing to the allure of violence.” Nonviolence requires “the willingness to face conflict head-on, to resolve it, and to make it a link in the chain of a new process,” explained Pope Francis.

Being a peacemaker doesn’t mean avoiding conflict but a willingness to dialogue, and if need be, to stand your ground in a non-violent manner.  It starts by pledging allegiance to a king who does on a cross, and by living a life in the ‘Red’ letter words of Jesus.

This is all part of the great commandment to love God and love your neighbor, stepping into your neighbor’s world and linking arms with them, even if it doesn’t impact your world.