阅读经文 

有孩子的最好和最坏的事就是在他们的成长过程中看到与自己相似的一部分特征。当我看我的孩子，我能发现和我相仿的一些面部特征和发际线，还有我对书籍和玉米饼的喜爱，等等。

但是我也能认识到我的焦虑和罪的倾向已经体现在他们身上了。而且我对他们从我这里习得或继承的一些东西感到惋惜。俗话说，“有其父必有其子”。

作为基督徒，我们不仅得到了赦免，而且还被纳入了一个新的属灵家庭。在这节经文中，耶稣提醒我们，作为神的孩子，至关重要的一件事就是无论我们走到哪里都要成为和平使者。在我们与每个人的关系中，我们蒙召去效法天父慷慨无私的爱的榜样。正如耶稣带着和好的使命而来，（参林后 5）我们被呼召在我们的工作场所、家庭、邻里和集市中成为和平使者。

面对文化的撕裂和政治的分歧，这不是一个容易的呼召。缔造和平是艰难、乏味的工作，往往是吃力不讨好的。然而，耶稣向我们保证，当我们做出努力时，我们就活出了神儿女的样式。

One of the best and worst parts of having kids is seeing different parts of yourself in them as they grow up. I can look at my children and see some of my facial features and my hairline, my love for books and tacos, and more.

But I can also recognize my anxieties and sinful tendencies already present within them. And I lament those things that they have learned or received from me. As the saying goes, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

As Christians, we are not only forgiven but also adopted into a new spiritual family. And in this beatitude, Jesus reminds us that an essential part of being God’s children is to act as peacemakers wherever we go. We are called to model the generous and undeserved love of the Father in our relationships with everyone. Just as Jesus came with a ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5), we are called to be reconcilers in our workplaces, families, neighborhoods, and marketplaces.

In the face of fragmented cultures and political divisions, this is no easy calling. Peacemaking is hard, tedious, often thankless work. And yet Jesus assures us that when we make the effort, we are living as children of God.