For further reflection:

Below are the readings from the talk for further reflection on this theme.

Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

Golden Sufi Centre website: “Real peace is a quality of pure being. The peace that Christ left with his disciples, the peace “not as the world giveth,” is in all of us. It is part of our essential nature. But like many qualities of the soul it remains hidden, overlooked by our perceptions and ways of relating that are so grounded in duality, conflict, and self-interest. … All of humanity needs to have access to the peace of the soul, for this peace belongs not just to each individual, but to the soul of the world. And if we look around us, we see that the world needs this peace.”

In his book Being Peace, Thich Nhat Hanh describes that we each carry the seeds of future generations within us. It is up to us how we nurture that seed, like a mother nurturing the child within her womb. He goes on to say: "It is with our capacity of smiling, breathing, and being peace that we can make peace."

In John 14:27 Jesus said "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Luke 10:5-6: “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them."

Etty Hillesum: “Ultimately, we have just one moral duty: to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves, more and more peace, and to reflect it toward others. And the more peace there is in us, the more peace there will also be in our troubled world.”

Thich Nhat Hanh: “Peace is present right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we do and see. Every breath we take, every step we take, can be filled with peace, joy, and serenity. The question is whether or not we are in touch with it. We need only to be awake, alive in the present moment.”... “If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile and blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace.”

Thich Nhat Hanh: “We have to walk in a way that we only print peace and serenity on the earth.”

Maya Angelou: “Cultivate a loving, close relationship with YOU.”

Georges Bernanos: "Little things seem nothing, but they give peace, like those meadow flowers which individually seem odourless but all together perfume the air."

John Philip Newell - Prayer for peace:

Peace for the earth and its creatures

peace for the world and its peoples

peace for our fathers

peace for our mothers

peace for our brothers and sisters.

The peace of heaven’s vastness

the peace of ocean depths

the peace of earth’s stillness

Amen

Peacemaking as a practice - some ideas:

• As Etty Hillesum points out, this begins with reclaiming peace within ourselves. This we do by regularly returning to and abiding in God as the Source of peace, allowing our own inner beings to attune to the oceanic peace of Christ. Otherwise our words of peace are likely to be shallow and empty.

• You could end your regular silent prayer times with a few minutes of actively practicing this offering of peace to the world, using your out-breath as a symbol of offering your peace to the world as an overflowing from the Heart of God, the Source of Oceanic Peace. I have found it helpful to pray on the out-breath "My peace I give to you" - this self-giving is such an important part of the process, echoing the self-giving attitude of Jesus.

• As you go through your day, set an intention to be a peacemaker, and notice the difference that this brings to your interactions. Even when walking from one place to another, walk in the way described by Thich Nhat Hanh: “We have to walk in a way that we only print peace and serenity on the earth.”

• Whenever possible, and with every person you meet, no matter how insignificant they may seem, practice saying quietly to them, from your heart, "Peace be upon you". If you prefer you could use the words of other languages, such as "Thula Sizwe", or Shalom, salaam, vrede, shanti or however you want to express it in that moment. I find using different languages or expressions from other religions can help to build an inner bridge where divisions are very entrenched.

• When you are with somebody troubling, practice breathing in the conflict and breathing out peace - this is the practice that we will do together.