Readings: Matthew 5:1-16, 43-48; Matthew 25:32-40: Romans 12: 9-21

Do you ever read the obituaries? I know some people make a habit of it, and I remember that poem that finishes 'If my name’s not there I know I’m not dead, so I have a good breakfast and go back to bed!' But it can be a nasty experience if your name IS there.

Mark Twain, on hearing that newspapers had reported his death is often quoted as saying 'rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated!' But I suppose it does give you a chance to find out what people think of you!

That happened to Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite and founder of the Nobel prizes. In fact it was his brother who had died, but one paper, thinking it was Alfred, reported it under the heading 'The merchant of death is dead'.

To be fair, it wasn’t inaccurate, because while a lot of dynamite was used in mining, it was also used in weapons of war, and Nobel’s business interests included armaments manufacture. But it caused Nobel to stop and think – is this how I would like to be remembered?

As a result he changed his will, using the bulk of his massive fortune to establish the Nobel Foundation. As you know, it awards prizes to those who have conferred the 'greatest benefit on mankind' in physics, chemistry, literature, medicine and, amazingly, peace – talk about beating your swords into plowshares!

His obituary may have triggered it, but he was also inspired by his friend and early peace activist Baroness Bertha von Suttner. She was a leader in the frantic activity for peace congresses early last century, dying just before the outbreak of the First World War.

Now, why my interest in Alfred and the Baroness? I recently came across a book of speeches by famous people and it included several that really struck me. One was by Al Gore on 10 December 2007 when he received his Nobel Peace Prize, and another six years earlier to the day, when Kofi Annan received his Peace Prize, shortly after the 9/11 tragedy.

What they both had to say moved me greatly, and the message of both is deeply rooted in the words of Jesus – 'blessed are the peacemakers', 'love your enemies', 'just as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me'. I thought that rather than give you my words I would give you theirs.

If you think this sounds dangerously political, you are absolutely right! Changing the world order to one that reflects God’s law of love has to be political. It is bound to stir up trouble, as Jesus found out.

It also takes years to achieve change – it took William Wilberforce almost 50 years of campaigning before slaves throughout the British Empire were freed. If we don’t tackle the challenge of peacemaking head on, afraid of treading on toes, it will take even longer.

Now, some of the words of Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations, from Ghana, when he received his Nobel Peace Prize.

'Over the past five years, I have often recalled that the United Nations’ Charter begins with the words 'We the peoples.' What is not always recognized is that 'we the peoples' are made up of individuals whose claims to the most fundamental rights have too often been sacrificed in the supposed interests of the state or the nation.

A genocide begins with the killing of one man – not for what he has done, but for who he is. A campaign of 'ethnic cleansing' begins with one neighbour turning on another. Poverty begins when even one child is denied his or her fundamental right to education. What begins with the failure to uphold the dignity of one life, all too often ends with a calamity for entire nations.

In this new century, we must start from the understanding that peace belongs not only to states or peoples, but to each and every member of those communities. The sovereignty of states must no longer be used as a shield for gross violations of human rights. Peace must be made real and tangible in the daily existence of every individual in need. Peace must be sought, above all, because it is the condition for every member of the human family to live a life of dignity and security.'

He goes on –

'In every great faith and tradition one can find the values of tolerance and mutual understanding. The Qur’an, for example, tells us that 'We created you from a single pair of male and female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other.' Confucius urged his followers: 'when the good way prevails in the state, speak boldly and act boldly. When the state has lost the way, act boldly and speak softly.' In the Jewish tradition, the injunction to 'love thy neighbour as thyself,' is considered to be the very essence of the Torah.

This thought is reflected in the Christian Gospel, which also teaches us to love our enemies and pray for those who wish to persecute us. Hindus are taught that 'truth is one, the sages give it various names.' And in the Buddhist tradition, individuals are urged to act with compassion in every facet of life.'

And so Kofi Annan became the eloquent spokesperson for those who have no voice – the victims of war, oppression, hunger, persecution and intolerance. His words spoken just three months after the Trade Towers fell.

Six years later, on the same stage, Al Gore delivered his address as spokesperson for the environment. He put it this way:-

'the earth has a fever. And the fever is rising. The experts have told us it is not a passing affliction that will heal itself. We asked for a second opinion. And a third. And a fourth. And the consistent conclusion, restated with increasing alarm, is that something basic is wrong. We are what is wrong, and we must make it right.'

He goes on to say:-

'As the American poet Robert Frost wrote, ‘Some say the world will end in fire; some say in ice’. Either, [Frost] notes, ‘would suffice’. But neither need be our fate. It is time to make peace with the planet.'

Make peace with the planet – what a surprising expression. So the way we are living now is at war with the planet – yet another war needing peacemakers! He continues –

'Now comes the threat of climate crisis – a threat that is real, rising, imminent and universal. Once again it is the 11th hour. The penalties for ignoring this challenge are immense and growing, and at some near point would be unsustainable and unrecoverable.

The future is knocking at our door right now. Make no mistake, the next generation will ask us one of two questions. Either they will ask: 'What were you thinking; why didn’t you act?' Or they will ask instead: 'How did you find the moral courage to rise and successfully resolve a crisis that so many said was impossible to solve?'

We have everything we need to get started, save perhaps political will, but political will is a renewable resource. So let us renew it, and say together: 'We have a purpose. We are many. For this purpose we will rise, and we will act.'

Wow! More inspiring words. But how do you and I make a difference? I’ve got two practical suggestions, and both relate to the wise words of these two gentlemen and to Jesus call to be peacemakers and to love both neighbours and enemies.

The first relates giving to worthy causes. If your mailbox is like mine there is no shortage of options to give to. As one of your guides for how you give consider 'Will the money I give help improve the life of someone affected by war, persecution, hunger?'

The second is a way to make your voice heard. For some years now I’ve been on the email list of a group called Avaaz.org. This group, which operates world-wide collects email 'signatures' for petitions on a wide range of social justice and environmental issues – presenting submissions with hundreds of thousands of signatures to world leaders as they are about to make key decisions – a practical demonstration of the political will that they seem to crave.

Does it make a difference? From their website 'In less than three years, we’ve grown to over 3.5 million members, and have begun to make a real impact on global politics. The Economist writes that Avaaz is poised to deliver 'a deafening wake up call' to world leaders, the Indian Express welcomes 'the biggest web campaigner across the world' and Nobel Prize winner Al Gore says 'Avaaz is inspiring, and has already begun to make a difference.'

Oh, and by the way, it doesn’t cost anything!

So there are two practical ways you might choose to live out God’s love and make a difference in the world – prioritise your giving, and make your voice heard by the world’s decision-makers.