BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS.

On April 2nd, the news of the Pope John Paul II was spread out quickly. The whole Christian family in all over the world have let their hearts paused for sometimes. Every Christian turned towards Vatican where the great leader of Catholic Church has just been called back to the Heavenly Father's home after his long journey in this world.
He left the world in peace just as he has lived in this world as a sign of peace.
Many respective titles had been given to him. "A saint has just left us"; "A man great faith and courage"; "A man of not being afraid", "A man of untiring working"
Tears have fallen in thousand faces no matter distances, regardless races and nationalities.
I like to think of Him as a peacemaker. His life is an edification of the Beatitude that was proclaimed by Jesus Christ (Mt 5, 1-10).
Blessed is the peacemaker for they shall be called children of God. John Paul II is deserved to be God's child as his whole life has been a call of peace and for peace.
Just as Jesus who is a presence of peace. All his life is a Good News to man kind. He came to the world to bring peace to human beings, the peace which comes from within. "No one can give to me the peace that my Risen Lord can give". The peace that nourishes life and make it more abundant (Jn 10, 10).
John Paul II had followed his Master steps that are to create and to build up peace not only to the global Christian community but also to the worldly community. His very first declaration of his mission as the Pope was "Do not be afraid". It was because God has given him the inner peace that made him totally put all his trust in God's hand and guidance. He had begun his task of taking care of the Lord's sheep with calmness and a strength that had been drawn out from deep within. From that time onwards, he tried to convey his peace to the hatred and wounded world.
To the marginalized, the hunger and the victim of atrocities, John Paul showed his concerns and stood on their side in order to fight again injustice and evils. He listened to their voices and shared his presence with God's love for them. With a staff having the cross on its top, John Paul traveled to all continents meeting people, from the aging to the little child. He sensitized to the needs of toil workers, the HIV infecteds, the gender issues.... He promoted life to mankind by calling for the peaceful existence and growth of helpless fetus in mother's womb. Give them the peaceful right to develop, to grow, to be born and cared for. It is because they are the image of God. His initiative brought the youth from various parts of the world together with his message "don't be afraid of upstream wading". There is no difference but diversity in unique. In every Youth conference, we can only experience of unanimity. The presence of the Pope in each place where he passed through has shined up peacefulness. The peace with has been arisen from within that gave comfort and constructed harmony.
The most touching sign of peace was the act of hugging the man who had attacked and wanted to kill him. This paid back attitude has moved his heart and refilled in him a peace that helped him to come back to his human sense.
John Paul also expressed peace with the nowadays world through the act of reconciliation to the past history by acknowledges mistakes which the Church had done in the past time.
Material world may give people sufficient things but true happiness and peace. People of today world need to find peace within, to have faith in their Gods. Bringing and building peace among them is not enough; peace must be constructed among all religions. It is because religion touches the depth of human hearts. We can see John Paul II in his way of sharing the Sermon on the mountain by his initiative of inviting leaders of all religions coming together in dialogue and prayer too. This starting thoughts and deeds has now become the model of expression by many people of different faith in the world when they together light candles to pray for peace or to pray for victims in each time of catastrophe taking place.
The Beatitudes are ever worthy of it values. Today John Paul has completed his journey in this world. The peacemaker now returns to Father home, and be his loving child. I believe in heaven God is widely opening his hand to welcome his child. I praise and thank God for has giving us such a beautiful and inspiring Pope in more than 25 years. I praise and thank God for using John Paul II to continue the blessing of the Resurrection Christ "Peace be with you" to the world. This blessing is remained within us and assures our ongoing journey to Father's home.

DT