Blessed are the Meek -- A Guest Post by Jo of Travelling the Circle Line

Jo blogs at Travelling the Circle Line. Do visit her.

Thank you, Jo.

‘Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.’ Matthew5:5

Meek is not a word that is used much these days. When it isit tends to have a passive nuance: timid, mild, docile. In the bible meek is used to describe Jesus (Matthew 11:29,1Peter 2:19-22)) and those are not words that I associate with Him. I think that the Bible must mean something quite different by the word meek.

Biblical meekness is defined as patience when one has been slighted or injured. It is the very opposite of sudden anger, malice andvengeance. It is a quiet and gentle spirit rather than haughty highmindness.The English word comes from the Greek word meaning companion or equal; the meek person is willing to walk alongside others without judgement, superior to none,she knows that everything she has and all that she is comes from God. One commentator described the meek person as one who ’carry themselvescourteously’. I like that.

This is the person who will inherit the earth. Is this inheritance eternal only or can it be claimed here and now?

So much of ourfaith is bound by the tension of the here and the not yet – the piquant combination of current joy and patient anticipation. In the Old Testament, the land is clearly linked to blessing but also to just and responsible living.

The New Testament teaches us that we can aspire to another sort of wealth, even more precious. Godly living, we are told leads to benefits in this life and the next (1 Tim 4:8). Meekness produces peace too great to be moved by small insults and I suggest that leads to contentment. We are free to enjoy everything God has given without grasping,without ambition, without demanding rights. We are joint heirs with Christ of the earth and everything in it, both spiritual and physical, now and in what is yet to be, if we are prepared to replace retaliation with peace, anger with courtesy and vengeance with love.