Devotion for today: Blessed are the Meek

We take a look today at what it means to be truly “meek”

Scripture for meditation: Matthew 5:5

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the land.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us: 1820: Christian hope unfolds from the beginning of Jesus’ preaching in the proclamation of the beatitudes. The beatitudes raise our hope toward heaven as the new Promised Land; they trace the path that leads through the trials that await the disciples of Jesus….

Father Jean-Pierre Herman, of St. Francis de Sales Oratory teaches us: Who is pure in heart? Who is the meek one? Who is the one who is persecuted for justice? It is Jesus Christ Himself. The beatitudes are self-descriptions of Jesus, inviting those who want to follow him to imitate His perfections.

Meekness… who are the meek? “Beati mites quoniam ipsi possidebunt terram,” says the second beatitude, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the land.”  If we want to understand what Jesus says, we have to ask two questions: “What is meekness?” and “What does inherit the land mean?”

The word used in Latin is mites: “Beati mites.” It has been translated in numerous manners by the different Bible translations. In English, the word “meek” has usually been chosen; French translations speak of “les doux,” the sweet, whereas many others talk about “the humble” and in more progressive translations “the non-violent.” In fact, mitis is a word difficult to translate adequately and we could say that it embraces all the meanings of those translations. The meek are those who can be humble, sweet in character, docile to the will of God, and who will never use violence. What about the second part of the statement: they will inherit the land? Meekness never was the best means of conquering the world. Can the meek rule over this world on earth? No! The land of which Christ speaks is not down-to-earth reality, it is not the land once promised to our forefathers on earth, but the land promised to all those who follow Christ: life eternal. “My kingdom, “says Jesus, “is not from this world.”…. Nevertheless we must notice that Jesus’ meekness never means passivity or leaving room to the adversary. Jesus’ meekness is also imbued with firmness, one of the best examples being when He kicks the merchants out of the temple.  But the climax of Jesus’ meekness is to be found in the sacrifice of the Cross. The meekness of God manifested in Christ is revealed in the Cross. The way by which Christ is going to win the victory over death is not violence, but submission. "When he was reviled,” Peter says, “he did not revile in return, when he suffered, he did not threaten." (http://stlouiscatholic.blogspot.com/2012/02/blessed-are-meek.html)

My thoughts: Vindication, revenge, getting even – can we associate these words with Christ? Did He ever seek to teach His persecutors “a lesson they would never forget”? Did He ever fume inside over a perceived hurt or slight? The answer is, of course, no. Jesus was meek. He accepted everything the Father sent Him with obedience and understanding, praying for His persecutors and loving those who hurt Him. He stood up for the truth, of course, and saved His anger for those who were leading people into sin. To be meek is to be humble, to be accepting, and to be free of pride. We seek not to hurt, but to heal; not to embarrass, but to elevate, and not to get even, but to show mercy. Ours, then, is the inheritance promised to us by God: the heavenly land of His kingdom.

Prayer: Sixth Day of the Novena to Divine Mercy (revealed to Saint Faustina)

Today bring to Me THE MEEK AND HUMBLE SOULS AND THE SOULS OF LITTLE CHILDREN

Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.