In this heartbreaking and horrifying week, our world has two major wars underway, both with the possibility of becoming wider and pulling in more participants. The lectionary readings for this Sunday include one from the Apostle Paul about peace: Philippians 4:8-9:

8 "Finally, beloved, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." (KJV)

Surely, this is an uplifting passage, one that directs our minds to what is most worthwhile in our life together. Especially in our present distress and grief as we witness people losing loved ones, or being maimed or killed, it is important to notice that Paul's words include several spiritual practices that are essential to building peace.

Long before Paul assures readers that the God of peace will be with them, he calls them to keep in mind three ethical behaviors that make peace possible: truth-telling, honesty, and justice-making. In our present time, we humans have far to go in living into these values. And there is no way to sustainable peace without our learning to embody them.