Matthew 3:16-17
And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Peacemaking is a sacrificial and priestly act. The crucifixion of the Son of God was done in order to reconcile our warring race with God and with ourselves. As St. Paul says, “you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end” (Ephesians 2:13-16). To make peace therefore always means a sacrifice since all peace is rooted in the peace of Christ and the peace of Christ was obtained “by his blood.” Jesus was able to do this because he is the Son of God. When we make peace, we are therefore sharers in his sonship–beloved children of God the Father, with whom he is well pleased.