Courageously Challenge, Pursue Peace
Brittany Mangelson of Saratoga Springs, UT, USA
Lift up your eyes and fix them on the place beyond the horizon to which you are sent. Journey in trust, assured that the great and marvelous work is for this time and for all time. -Doctrine and Covenants 161:1a
“But what does it actually mean to move toward Jesus, the peaceful One?” This question was asked in earnest from a seeker who was looking for solace and refuge from the ongoing challenges 2020 brought us. Racial injustice in the streets and structures of society, illness and death from the global pandemic, and economic uncertainty that was making once hidden inequalities so much more visible.
As I chatted with this seeker over Zoom, my eyes filled with tears. I was overwhelmed with sorrow for my Black sisters and brothers. I was worried about friends and family and the impact COVID-19 was having on them. The question whether we are moving toward Jesus, the peaceful One, suddenly became a real challenge in the face of so much. A familiar scripture came to mind that seemed to hold this tension well: “Courageously challenge cultural, political, and religious trends that are contrary to the reconciling and restoring purposes of God. Pursue peace” (Doctrine and Covenants 163: 3b). As I shared this scripture with the seeker, tears filled both of our eyes.
Walking the way with Jesus, the peaceful One isn’t passive. We are not called to stand by and pretend everything is okay for the sake of peace. Instead, doing the work Jesus calls us to requires us to be awake and ready to respond to the needs around us. It requires us to listen, to act, and to invite others to join us in peacemaking and the work of justice and restoration. It’s not easy, but we haven’t been promised an easy path. My new friend was intrigued by the invitation to hold this tension: courageously challenge, pursue peace. I hope you join her in following Jesus, the peaceful One.
Prayer Phrase
Are we moving toward Jesus, the peaceful One?
Spiritual Practice
Gospel Contemplation (John 13:1-15)
Each week during Lent, you are invited to pray with a different gospel story from the life of Christ. Use your senses and imagination to enter the text. Allow it to come to life in you, observing details, noticing interactions, even engaging in dialogue. Notice where you find yourself in the story and how you feel about what is happening. Notice what it evokes in you or invites of you. Take time to journal or enter silent prayer to reflect on your experience and to sense where the Spirit may be leading you through this scriptural encounter.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
