ACC ~ Matthew 5 v9

GUARDING THE PEACE OF THE CHURCH

CHROMATIUS: The peacemakers are those who, standing apart from the stumbling block of disagreement and discord, guard the affection of fraternal love and the peace of the church under the unity of the universal faith. And the Lord in the Gospel particularly urges his disciples to guard this peace, saying, “I give you my peace; I leave you my peace.” [1] David earlier testified that the Lord would give this peace to his church, saying, “I will listen to what the Lord speaks in me, for he will pronounce his peace to his people and upon his holy ones and to those who turn to him.” [2] TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 17.7.1-2. [3]

[1] Jn 14:27.

[2] Ps 85:8 (84:8 LXX).

[3] CCL 9a:275.

WHERE PEACE IS

AUGUSTINE: There is in the inner person a kind of daily quarrel; a praiseworthy battle acts to keep what is better from being overcome by what is worse. The struggle is to keep desire from conquering the mind and to keep lust from conquering wisdom. This is the steadfast peace that you ought to develop in yourself, that what is better in you may be in charge of what is worse. The better part in you, moreover, is that part in which God’s image is found. This is called the mind, the intellect. There faith burns, there hope is strengthened, there charity is kindled. SERMON 53A.12. [1]

[1] MA 1:633; WSA 3 3:83.

THE PEACEMAKER

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The peacemaker is the one who demonstrates the harmony of the Scriptures, where others see only a contradiction: the Old with the New, the law with the prophets, Gospel with Gospel. [1] Accordingly, having imitated the Son of God, “he shall be called a son,” having by his work grasped of the “spirit of adoption.” [2] FRAGMENT 38. [3]

[1] For Cyril the peacemaker is the one able to stress the unity and harmony of the Scriptures. Cyril takes aim at the heretics (Gnostics, Marcionites and Manichaeans) who divided the Old Testament from the New, but he also challenges those people (particularly pagan polemicists such as Porphyry and Julian) who pointed out contradictions between books of the Scriptures or Gospels.

[2] Rom 8:15.

[3] MKGK 164-65.

CHRIST IS OUR PEACE

ANONYMOUS: Peace is the only begotten God, of whom the apostle says, “For he himself is our peace.” So people who cherish peace are children of peace. But some may be thought to be peacemakers who make peace with their enemies but remain heedless of evils within. They are never reconciled in heart with their own internal enemies, yet they are willing to make peace with others. They are parodies of peace rather than lovers of peace. For that peace is blessed which is set in the heart, not that which is set in words. Do you want to know who is truly a peacemaker? Hear the prophet, who says, “Keep your tongue from evil, and let your lips not speak deceit. Do not let your tongue utter an evil expression.” [1] INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 9. [2]

[1] Ps 34:13-14 (33:13-14 LXX).

[2] PG 56:682.

THE BLESSINGS OF PEACE

CHRYSOSTOM: Here he not only responds that they should not feud and become hateful to one another, but he is also looking for something else and something more, that we bring together others who are feuding. And again he promises a spiritual reward. What kind of reward is it? “That they themselves shall be called sons of God.” For in fact this was the crucial work of the Only Begotten: to bring together things divided and to reconcile the alienated. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 15.4. [1]

[1] 84.

AN EXPRESSION OF THE COMING REIGN OF GOD

AUGUSTINE: Where there is no contention, there is perfect peace. And that is why the children of God are peacemakers, because nothing can finally stand against God. In this way the children possess a likeness to God the Father. And those who calm their passions and subject them to reason, to mind and spirit, and who keep their carnal lusts under control engender peace within themselves. Thereby they themselves become the kingdom of God. In this kingdom all things are so well ordered that everything in humanity that is common to us and to the beasts is spontaneously governed by that which is chief and preeminent in humanity, namely, the reasoning mind. This preeminent human faculty is itself subject to a still higher power, which is Truth itself, the only begotten Son of God. SERMON ON THE MOUNT 1.2.9. [1]

[1] PL 34:1233; FC 11:23-24.