Good News A10 Blessed Are the Peacemakers, Matthew 5:1-12, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Children's Liturgy of the Word, written by Joan Y. Edwards, devotional

Cycle A

Good News A10

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 5:1-12 Bible Gateway New International Version

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. We certainly need peacemakers today. Every day we need peacemakers. We need people who will forgive each other and go out of their way to solve problems with others without using violence. For instance, in your family, instead of hitting your brother or sister when you get angry, take a ten-minute walk. Then, come back and talk things over. When you get angry, count to ten frontwards and backwards. Say the Our Father out loud. Sit under a tree and count the number of ants that are at work nearby. If you go to your room, hold on to your pillow. If you still feel like hitting something, hit your pillow. Read in the Bible. Watch your favorite video. Then sit down with a piece of paper and write down 3 reasons why you think you got angry. Were you afraid? Were you jealous? Were you hurt? Remember that God will help you. As the Our Father says, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” This means we are asking God to forgive us our sins, our wrongdoings, as we are willing to forgive those who do wrong to us, those who hurt us in some way.

God wants us to treat others as we would want them to treat us. Once you have calmed down, and asked God to help show you a clear path to peace. He will send the Holy Spirit to show you the way. God will say to you, “Well done, my child.”

Say the “Our Father” and ask God to bless you and help you to be make peace with everyone in your life.

“Our Father, who art in Heaven,

Hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day, our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.”