Posted on: 14th May 2025

“…he will proclaim peace to the nations…” (Zechariah 9v10)

In three weeks’ time, on Pentecost Sunday, there will be the 21st gathering of the Global Day of Prayer. It’s amazing how this has continued for such a long period of time with at least 40 nationalities involved. This year, the planning team decided to focus on the theme of Peace.

The verse (Zech. 9 v10) is clearly pointing to the role of the coming Messiah, also described by Isaiah as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9v6). However, it is hard to reconcile such verses with the current world situation where there are 35 armed conflicts in Africa, 31 in Asia, 7 in Europe and 6 in Latin America and some estimates are 110 wars worldwide*. Although it could be argued that the peace referred to here is more than the absence of war, nonetheless, wars are the outcome of a fundamental lack of peace in the human heart and then nations. As I write, two important events occurred yesterday, on 8th May,  underlining the importance of peace. The appointment of a new Pope, Robert Prevost (Leo X1V) and the celebration of 80 years since VE Day. The first words spoken by the Pope were words of peace, echoing those spoken by Jesus at one of his resurrection appearances to his disciples.

“Peace be with you. Dearest brothers and sisters, this was the first greeting of the risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for the flock of God. I, too, would like the greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people wherever they are; and all peoples, and all the earth. Peace be with you.” At the VE Day Anniversary, King Charles stated that “Britain shall have failed if the sacrifices of the wartime generation do not lead to ‘lasting peace’ He also called for a global commitment to ‘restoring peace’.

Yes, it is easy to call for peace, and I’m sure many who have expressed this are very sincere, but we all know it is much harder to achieve. Yet we are all called to be peacemakers, whatever context we are in. “Blessed are the peacemakers…” (Matt. 5v9). As we reflect on this significant point in time, let us be peacemakers, praying for peace in our particular circumstances but realising we must pray for peace in the nations of the world. This is only possible through the reconciling peace found in Christ’s ultimate sacrifice: "God also reconciled all things to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, thereby making peace through the blood of the cross.”

Do join us if you can on 8th June for the Global Day of Prayer (See flyer above) 

By Paul Lancaster, Hope for the Nations

*Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights