Over the past three weeks, we’ve seen a steady escalation in lawlessness, animosity, quick accusations, threats of violence, real violence, and tragic deaths amid the protests over the federal government’s law enforcement campaign targeting illegal immigration in Minneapolis. The continued coarsening of our public discourse and the disregard for human dignity that Americans are displaying to their fellow Americans should cause us to pause and reflect: is there a better way?

In His unveiling of the Beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus shows us that there is. It’s worth noting that this simple yet extraordinarily powerful and revolutionary summation of what true virtue looks like has been staring Western civilization (and indeed the world) in the face for almost two millennia. Yet here we are, 2,000 years later, still butting our heads against the wall, unable to internalize the formula that is central to the most widely read and best-selling book in history, a formula that brings peace, contentment, and true happiness to the human heart.

It’s true that the Beatitudes are humbling — it’s hard not to squirm slightly as we read them, knowing how woefully we fall short of them and how difficult they are to truly attain. But taking a closer look at them and spending time reflecting on how we can better embody and practice them will go a long way in bringing restoration and healing to our torn and fractured public discourse and political atmosphere. Here are some reflections on the Beatitudes that seem most pertinent to our current cultural moment.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).

In our cultural climate, “meekness” has almost become an epithet, with many considering it synonymous with “weakness.” But that’s not what meekness is. To be meek is to possess a gentle strength that resists resentment and does not retaliate in the face of disorderly behavior, knowing that retaliation only escalates the situation and invites further emotional and physical injury. It casts aside anger and vengefulness and chooses calmness and forbearance, trusting in the power of God to right wrongs rather than taking matters into our own hands.

When observing the way many of the anti-ICE protestors have behaved — screaming profanities in the faces of officers, threatening their lives and their families, proudly displaying “F*** ICE” signs — it seems clear that they think that anger and defiance will win the day. Those who have reflexively tried to fight fire with fire by declaring protestors to be “assassins” and “terrorists” also seem to think that bluster will bring about victory. But they are all wrong. Jesus tells us that it is in fact the meek who will “inherit the earth.”

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

A touch of mercy would go a long way in healing much of our divisions over illegal immigration. To exhibit mercy is to show compassion, empathy, and forgiveness toward those who may have wronged us or who are in need of assistance we can freely give.

Can those who vehemently disagree with the government’s decision to enforce deportations show mercy toward ICE and Border Patrol officers who are just trying to do their jobs, who themselves have spouses and children to provide for and take care of? Can deportation hardliners have compassion for migrants who are otherwise law-abiding and are holding steady jobs in order to support their families, who may have children who are American citizens and do not want to be separated from them? Can we as a country find a merciful way to offer them a reasonable and just pathway to citizenship?

The amazing thing about mercy is that it is contagious. When we show someone mercy, it’s the ultimate form of de-escalation. When we are mercifully forgiven by the person we have wronged, we can’t help but feel grateful and know that it would be absurd to respond with further vitriol. When we are freely and mercifully given gifts that we have not earned or paid for, we desire to pay it forward and show mercy when given the opportunity.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

Deep down, every person ultimately desires peace. To have peace in their hearts, peace in their families and homes, peace in their neighborhoods, peace in their towns, peace in their countries, peace in the world. One source describes peace as “the tranquility of order” and the “serenity experienced because there is no conflict. It is the calm that accompanies agreement of human wills, and is the foundation of every well-ordered society.”

While it is true that we should not strive for a contrived peace that ignores evil and simply tries to mollify everyone, it is also true that we should not go looking for conflict, even if we feel justified. Jesus is telling us to be the ones who choose to be peacemakers in a world full of provocateurs. It is only when peace can be restored to the streets of Minneapolis that a process of reconciliation and compromise can begin.

As Christians, we know that the Beatitudes are a kind of magic key to a happy and fulfilled life — it is in the process of practicing meekness, mercy, peacemaking, and more that we find contentment. Our angry and vindictive culture seems to have forgotten them amid a dismissive and cynical post-Christian age. It is up to believers to practice the Beatitudes in our day-to-day lives within the company of our neighbors, relatives, coworkers, and friends, thereby awakening the conscience of an aching and wounded world that hungers for virtue without realizing it.