Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.
Reflection
Have you ever had an interaction with someone—something they said or did—that stayed with you long after it ended? You replay it in your mind, think about what you should have said, what they said, and feel the weight of it linger. Then, when you finally see that person again or work up the courage to talk about it, they seem unfazed, as if the moment barely crossed their mind. They quickly made peace with it, while the experience continued to live “rent free” in your thoughts.
Jesus teaches that one of the keys to a truly happy life is learning to make peace. But what does that really mean? On a broad level, making peace includes standing against violence, oppression, and injustice wherever we encounter them. Yet Jesus’ words also reach into our everyday, personal relationships.
On a practical level, making peace means choosing forgiveness and refusing to hold onto grudges. When we carry resentment, we often harm ourselves more than the person who hurt us. Many times, people do not intentionally mean to offend or wound others. Even when they do, holding onto bitterness only keeps us bound to the pain.
Making peace does not mean ignoring hurt or pretending that wrongs never happened. It means entrusting the situation to God, extending grace, and releasing our grip on resentment. When we choose peace, we reflect the heart of God. In doing so, we discover the freedom and joy Jesus promises—becoming people who are truly called God’s children. So, let peace and joy live “rent free” in your brain, not resentment and anger.
by Manny Estevez
For Pondering and Prayer
- Is there someone or some situation that has been living “rent free” in your mind?
- What would it look like for you to take a step toward peace today?
- How might forgiveness bring healing not just to others, but to your own heart?
Prayer: God of peace, search my heart and reveal where I am holding onto resentment or hurt. Give me the grace to forgive as I have been forgiven. Help me to be a peacemaker in my words, my actions, and my relationships, so that my life reflects your love and peace. Amen.
