Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
My first response to Jesus’ words in this portion of the Beatitudes is to say “what”??? This earth seems driven by those who are the most bombastic and bellicose. The voices of the meek seem drowned out, unheard even, above the obnoxious and ultra-opinionated. How are the meek ever to inherit anything, let alone the earth?
According to the Oxford Dictionary, the term meek means “quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive.”
Those aren’t exactly words that imply strength. When we look at the life of Jesus, his version of meekness differs from the official definition, at least in part. Jesus was certainly submissive to the will of God when it came to his death on the cross, but Jesus wasn’t always quiet and gentle. The money changers and merchants who Jesus threw out of the temple would hardly have used the words quiet and gentle to describe Jesus. Perhaps meekness extends beyond the limited Oxford definition.
To me, those who are meek exhibit quiet strength and restraint. To be meek is to listen first and then respond – to be respectful yet confident in articulating your own feelings. If we use Jesus as our example of how to live a meek life, it is with quiet strength and purpose. I’m still not sure about the “inheriting the earth” part of this verse, but I do believe that living meekly will bring us peace and inner confidence for our life’s journey.
Dear Lord, may we live meekly and humbly as we serve throughout our own little corner of the earth. May our quiet and respectful strength bring comfort and peace to those we serve.
Blessings,
Diana
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