Can Living the Beatitudes Bring Peace?
“Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
The theme of the second week of Advent is peace, something our modern, plugged-in world seems to have misplaced. We are constantly surrounded by noise, tragedy, and distraction. News alerts, social media updates, and endless information promise connection but often leave us anxious and weary. I’ve noticed in myself, as I’m sure many have, an addiction to being “in the know.” Even in Advent, a season meant for quiet preparation, there’s the relentless noise of the commercialized Christmas season pulling at our attention.
How do we find peace in a culture that never stops talking? How do we hold onto stillness in our work, our homes, and our hearts?
This Advent, Catholic Women in Businesses encourages you to turn to the Beatitudes. Could it be that living them and truly embodying these countercultural blessings is the key to lasting peace?
1. Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit: Peace Through Dependence
Being “poor in spirit” means recognizing our dependence on God in all things. It means letting go of the illusion of control. In our work, this might look like finding our identity not in what we’re doing but rather who we are.
When we entrust outcomes to Him, we release the heavy burden of perfection and performance.
I learned this lesson early in my career. At 22, I found myself unexpectedly leading the marketing department of a large parish after only a few weeks on the job. I was overwhelmed, and my health began to suffer from the stress of trying to prove myself and carry every responsibility alone. Eventually, I realized I couldn’t keep living that way. I asked for more help and realized that the burden of success was not fully on me. I began to once again find peace in my work, not because things got easier but because I stopped trying to be my own savior.
Reflection: Where am I trying to be self-sufficient instead of God-dependent?
2. Blessed Are the Meek and the Merciful: Peace in Relationships
“Meek” isn’t a word most of us aspire to. It sounds soft, even powerless. But in the Gospel sense, meekness is anything but weak. It refers to strength under control and humility when faced with conflict. Meekness is the quiet confidence of someone who trusts that justice belongs to God. Mercy flows from that same place of trust.
To be meek is to choose calm strength over quick reaction. To be merciful is to release resentment and make space for healing.
For those of us with a strong sense of justice or deep emotions, this can be a hard calling. I can recall moments when I held onto disappointment or frustration far too long. But resentment never brings peace; it only builds walls.
Meekness and mercy can change an entire culture. A gentle response can defuse tension; a forgiving heart can turn a workplace into a community. When we lead with humility and compassion, others feel seen, safe, and valued. Peace naturally follows.
Reflection: When conflict arises, do I reach for control or choose compassion?
3. Blessed Are the Pure in Heart and the Peacemakers: Peace That Flows Outward
Purity of heart means integrity — an undivided self. When our motives align with love of God and neighbor, our hearts become still. As St. Augustine famously wrote in his Confessions: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
From that interior stillness, we become true peacemakers, women who bring calm, clarity, and unity wherever we go. Peace is not complacency or avoidance. It is an active pursuit of wholeness, a desire to see and serve others through the eyes of Christ.
Giving yourself space to simply love God — whether it’s five minutes of prayer before babies wake in the morning (me!) or a Rosary on your commute – will encourage this purity of heart and reorient you to God. That interior peace becomes something to carry into work, relationships, and your home.
Reflection: What helps me quiet my heart so that God’s peace can flow through me to others?
Conclusion: The Quiet Revolution of the Beatitudes
Living the Beatitudes doesn’t remove chaos from our lives. Instead, it transforms how we walk through it. During Advent especially, this season of preparation invites us to slow down and make space for Christ to bring peace to our hearts.
St. Francis de Sales reminds us: “Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, not even if your whole world seems upset. If you find that you have wandered away from the shelter of God, lead your heart back to Him quietly and simply.”
That is the peace of the Beatitudes: steady, faithful, and free. It is a peace the world cannot give and cannot take away.
Mary Grace Rodriguez is a Catholic wife, mother, and marketing professional based in Dallas, TX. A passionate creative, she brings experience in marketing, design, and writing to tell inspiring stories and foster meaningful connections. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and toddler, nature walks, fitness, dancing, reading, and scrapbooking. She lives by the words of Dostoyevsky: “Beauty will save the world.”