The Strength of Meekness
In today’s world, meekness often carries a connotation of weakness. But that is not what Jesus says it is. Yes, meekness has an element of submissiveness, but as Jesus demonstrates, accepting misfortune and evil done to you takes far greater strength than retaliating. Meekness is a gentleness and openness of heart that welcomes others into it with love while simultaneously remaining calm in the face of evil. The greatest demonstration of meekness is Christ’s Passion. He never once fought against his torturers or said a bad word to them. Rather, Jesus asked His Father to forgive them. In His acceptance and obedience, Jesus shows us the true power and strength of meekness.
Hebrews 3:13 says, “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Likewise, John 8:34 says, “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin.”” Our hearts have been hardened because of sin, and this hardness of heart makes practicing meekness that much more difficult. Thanks be to God for giving us a way for out hearts to be softened. Jesus is that way. Through intimate encounters with Jesus, our hearts are softened and we are more receptive to His Will and His grace. Coming close to Jesus is, on the one hand, difficult because of that hardness of heart, but on the other hand, it’s not so difficult because of how close to us Jesus is. Jesus is ALWAYS close to us, even when we don’t feel like He is. And in those moment where God feels distant, remember that He is bearing that burden with you and that this experience is for your good. Jesus wants to sanctify us, and He uses trials and tribulations to do so. Jesus is close every moment of every day, and every moment of every day we should strive to pray. Intimacy with Jesus is the only way to heal the hardness of the human heart. With that being said, there isn’t a certain way you have to pray in those moments. There may, however, be a certain way in which He is calling you to pray. When He prompts you, consider stepping into that prompting.
What does meekness feel like? It depends on which part you look at. If you look at the externals, the ridicule, abuse, and disrespect you’ll eventually encounter don’t sound so good. But if you look at the interior, the image is drastically different. Meekness carries with it a serenity that only comes from God, and this serenity is what enables you to let all those bad experiences roll off your shoulders. This serenity comes a secure foundation in your identity as a beloved son or daughter of God. When you are secure in your identity and know that God is with you and takes care of you, you can weather any storm. So, if you want to learn how to live meekly like Jesus, try starting by reading the Gospels. Pay attention to Jesus’ responses when He’s faced with adversity. How does He react? What does He say? What does He do? Jesus is our perfect role model. If you pay attention to how He behaved and strive to imitate Him, you are bound to grow in holiness.
