Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time (June 12, 2017): The true meaning of 'blessed are the meek'

The beatitudes in today’s Gospel reading contain a word, a description of Christian living, that is very misunderstood in our modern language: the word meek. “Blessed are the meek” does not mean “Blessed are the pushovers” or “Blessed are the victims of abuse who don’t protect themselves” or “Blessed are the quiet ones who don’t speak up against injustices.”

In the dictionary, the word “meek” is defined as “showing patience, humility, and gentleness.” But we tend to understand it more often by its other definition: “easily imposed upon; submissive due to being deficient in spirit and courage.”

Jesus modeled meekness for us. So did his Blessed Mother. Think about it: How could they deal with the tough circumstances of their lives if being meek means being deficient in spirit and courage? In fact, holy meekness requires a very strong personality. It’s a bold strength that enables us to refuse to be impatient, prideful, or pushy. Rather than being a pushover, a meek Christian is one who will not push over someone else.

To be meek like Jesus means standing up firmly for the truth without insisting on being believed. It means holding fast to the truth without casting pearls before swine by forcing it upon those who refuse to listen. It means letting your desires be known without demanding your own way.

Christian meekness is confidence — but gently rather than arrogant or forceful or abusive. It’s calm assertiveness. It’s an unassuming but noticeable presence that does not draw attention to one’s own self for the sake of being the center of attention but instead points to Jesus.

Holy meekness means setting healthy boundaries for your life and, with the strength of God, asserting these boundaries so that others cannot overstep them unless you choose to allow it for a greater good.

It means freely and lovingly, with good discernment, choosing when to make sacrifices, which you share with Jesus on his cross.

It means being a peacemaker in the midst of a battle, even as a troublemaker drawing attention to the battle so that a solution can be found.

In the kingdom of God, a meek person is anything but a wimp! Only with true meekness can we “inherit the land”, i.e., receive as God’s children everything that belongs to his kingdom. No one who’s deficient in spirit and courage can obtain that.

The key to understanding how to be meek is to remember the word “love.” To be meek is to be strong in whatever ways strength is needed — but always with love. We have the spirit and courage to love even during life’s toughest trials.

Today’s Prayer:

Beloved Father, awaken and strengthen in me the certainty of being Your blessed child, especially when my path is dark and difficult. Let me experience in my being Your Word full of hope. Amen.