Blessed are the Meek

Meekness is a serenity of spirit when your emotions are stirring within. The inner calmness of the meek person doesn’t happen overnight. It is the fruit of a long, inner struggle to moderate anger, rash judgement, and quickness of temper. Meekness is the experience of a well-disciplined soul. 

To cultivate the virtue of meekness requires discipline, hard work, and suffering. It is challenging to be patient, to endure injury, and to persevere through unjust situations. For example, when playing sports, the referee may make a bad call. When someone falsely accuses you or speaks with an unpleasant tone of voice, how would a meek person respond? 

The meek persona is not a “doormat” but is someone who knows when to walk away from gossip, injustices, and ridicule. Most especially they know when to set boundaries by “shaking the dust off” (Mark 6:11), leaving a group, or not responding to taunting or peer pressure. 

The meek are blessed because they have endured illness, injury, or witness others suffering and can express empathy, acceptance and understanding. They are self-possessed and fully alive with the fruits of the spirit—peace, joy, and self-control. 

Prayer for meekness: 

Heavenly Father, Your Son was silent before His accusers. “Though harshly treated, he submitted and did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to slaughter or a sheep silent before shearers, he did not open his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7). Let me be rooted in Your love so that I may have the inner strength to be meek like your Son. 

– Excerpt from Walking in the Footsteps, p.42