MESSENGERS OF PEACE.

Last Sunday, we saw the qualification that was necessary and the pre-requisite for would be disciple of Jesus Christ. It was a situation that was not attractive, though challenging because it calls for urgency in the life of those who are called and heeded this invitation to following Jesus Christ.
In the election, appointment and commission of the 72 disciples (Lk. 10:1-20), Christ sent them out in two’s as an affirmation that the witness of two sustains a charge.
In their mission they are to show a genuine approach of conversion, since they should consider themselves as “lambs among wolves”. It means that the instrument and value system of the Kingdom they were to proclaim are not violent but Christian and gentle dispositions that was to enter into homes of those that they were to evangelize, by declaring a salutation of “Peace be to this House”.
The salutation of peace is to elicit peace and convoke the author of peace in bringing this peace into the life of the home the disciples have entered into. But we must clearly point out that acceptance of the peace, or rejection of this peace proposal determines the effect of this peace in the life of the recipient.
Peace is always the content of the messengers of Jesus proclamation. The value system of these messengers of Jesus must be discovered in the humble approach of Jesus bringing all men and women into the kingdom of light and joy rather than previous empire of darkness and unperceived dungeon of slavery.
According to John of the Cross, “wherever there is no peace put in peace, such that whenever you come across that way you will meet the peace that you left behind animating the environment” cf Dark night of soul.
The theme of peace reflects also in the Paul address to the problem in the Galatians church (Gal.6:14-18), he instructs them not to make circumcision a norm that qualifies people as righteous but to accept JESUS as their personal Lord and Saviour. To make this decision is to live in peace and tranquility. For Paul “I want no more trouble from anybody after this; the marks on my body are those of Jesus” This are marks of the peace of CHRIST.
The prophecy of Isaiah (66:10-14) is the assurance of the return to the fugitive people of Israel, such that he has come to redress and relent their punishment which has kept them in such bondage of theirs. This assured peace is what has kept them in this august joyful situation.
Today we should ask ourselves this question, As Gods children and messengers what are the content of our personal encounter with others. Are they cauldrons of burning hot oil, or cooling waters that bring about changes for better rather than fighting.
We must put in mind that our messages are to be that of the messengers of Jesus Christ who are gentle as dove and not hostile and un-approachable agents.
In sum, our today’s world is in serious quest for peace makers, not ideologists of a new world order that is merely conceptual without concrete existential value to general good.