Reflections...

A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on 10 March 2024, by Hope Antone. The scripture readings that day were Psalm 37:7-11, James 1: 19-21 and Matthew 5: 38-41.

"Blessed Are the Meek"

“Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.” 

 

I remember while growing up, that some people described my four sisters and I as the “meek” Antone daughters. What they meant was that they found us to be very shy, timid, and mousy. As I prepared for this sermon, I realized how far such an understanding of meekness was from its intended meaning; and how far my sisters and I are from being truly “meek.” How often do we mistake meekness to mean weakness; and humility to mean timidity? 

 

The closest translation of meek is “gentle.” Scholars say that in Greek common language the word ‘meek’ was used to describe three things: medicine, wind, and horse. What do these three have in common? 

 

The Greek word for ‘meek’ was used to describe medicine which, when given in the proper dosage and prescribed by a doctor, would bring healing to a sick person or at least some reprieve from pain. But an overdose of medicine could kill a person. The word for ‘meek’ was also used to describe wind or the gentle breeze that is refreshing. But wind that turns into a hurricane or tornado could be destructive to life, property, and creation. The word for ‘meek’ was also used to describe the breaking in of a horse – not to break its strength or speed, but to break its stubbornness and self-will in order for the horse to help farmers plow their fields.  

 

These three – medicine, wind, and horse – have great power or strength which has to be put under control in order that they can benefit others. Out of control, the power of the medicine, the wind, and the horse can be destructive. So, the Greek word for meek (‘pruas’) means strength in gentleness; power under control; or the right blend of force and reserve. 

 

The Bible translates meekness as gentleness and humility. The Bible cites two persons who fit the description of meekness, gentleness and humility. In the Old Testament (Numbers 12:3), Moses is described as the meekest man on earth; while in the New Testament, Jesus described himself as meek and lowly (Matthew 11:28-29). From what we know about Moses, he had a temper, he got angry many times, he wasn’t very patient, but he led a group of slaves on a 40-year journey to the promised land. On various occasions, he argued with the Pharaoh, with the Israelites, and even with God. He demonstrated courage, power and strength.       

 

Jesus described himself as gentle/meek when said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29); and "See, your king comes to you, gentle (meek) and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (Matthew 21:5). This was to distinguish his vision of a kin-dom that was different from the despotic, cruel and oppressive kingdoms of the world. But the Bible also describes Jesus as standing up to the Roman authorities and the Jewish leaders; standing against practices opposed to God’s kin-dom; enduring a fixed trial, beatings, and rejection with dignity; and he never lost his self-control. He prayed for his enemies even while on the cross. 

 

If Moses and Jesus are examples of meekness, then our understanding of meekness as weakness needs to be checked.

 

The Beatitudes (or as someone described them as the Be Attitudes) declare that a certain group of people are blessed. During the past three Sundays here at Kowloon Union Church, we heard sermons on the poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness declared as blessed. Today, we are looking at those who are meek. All these peo=   cv ccccc                                                 cc cxmple seem to be afflicted, yet in their situation of affliction, they are declared blessed. They don’t have to do anything to attain the blessing for it is through God’s grace that they are declared blessed. The Beatitudes are not conditions of salvation or roadmaps to enter God’s kingdom. 

 

We can imagine the audience of Jesus when he gave these Beatitudes in what is now known as the Sermon on the Mount. They were under the Roman Empire, and many people wanted to do the opposite of gentleness – i.e., to rebel and crush Rome and they expected Jesus to lead them in such a movement. But Jesus preaches a different message instead. It is not those who want to carry out revenge against the enemy who would inherit the earth. It is the meek who shall inherit the earth. So, who are the meek that are being blessed? 

 

First, the meek are those who trust and hope completely in God (Ps 37:3, 5). Trust and hope come from the same root word in Greek. The meek choose to put their hope and trust in God to provide everything that they need. They do not “fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices” (Psalm 37:7). They do not envy others who are becoming more prosperous; and they do not worry that they are not keeping up with those who are getting ahead.

 

Perhaps, living in hope and trust in God is very challenging these days. For it is so easy to see what other people have and what we don’t have. And we often like what people have. It is so easy to see what people are enjoying, and then we realize what we lack. To be truly meek is to know that we only need what is truly important. To be meek is to live out of a place of hope in the power, grace and sufficiency of God or what is truly important. 

 

Second, the meek are those who have self-control (Ps 37:8), whose power or strength is put under God’s control. When Jesus was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:51-53), Peter defended him by cutting off the ear of one of those arresting him. Jesus told Peter to put the sword back. He said that he could call 12 legions of angels to help him, but he had put his power under God’s control and purpose.

 

In our hectic way of life today, we easily feel annoyed, offended, and unfairly treated. We easily react and snap back. Perhaps, the advice on self-control in James 1:19-20 is still useful today: “let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, for human anger does not produce God’s righteousness.” Even if one is right (and we always think we’re right) and one’s reaction may be justified (and we always think our reaction is justified), one’s being quick to anger can lead to broken relationships which could be hard to heal. Self-control is one fruit of the spirit. But we may bear this fruit when we are willing to give up control to God.  

 

There is another reason why self-control is important. I came across this saying: “Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” When we are angry, we’re actually poisoning ourselves while expecting the other to die. My friend Pooja shared that when she sincerely prayed for someone against her and who had hurt her, she felt a peace and calm which somehow touched the other person. She was so amazed to find that connection with that someone. That healed the rift between them. That is self-control in action through prayer.   

 

Third, the meek are those who are intentional about their power under control. Jesus’ purpose for putting his power under God’s control was to break in this new kin-dom of restoring shalom or wholeness to God’s creation. Such intentionality made Jesus a change maker – exposing systems of domination, challenging values of cleanness and worthiness, standing in solidarity with the marginalized, and declaring blessing to the last, the least and the lost. So, meekness did not make Jesus a quiet and passive bystander. His intentionality set him on a mission.  

 

So, the in-breaking of the Kin-dom of God is not about a restored world that his followers would inherit in the future by and by. As the beatitude for today puts it, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” The meek shall inherit the earth, for the kingdom of heaven begins right in the here and now when the kin-dom values will permeate our lives and our living, together as children of God. We can have a foretaste of this new heaven and new earth when we, like Jesus, become change makers with him on his mission. 

 

How can meekness thrive in a world that is full of violence, corruption, injustice? Some scholars say that our gospel reading (Matthew 5:38-41) is an expansion of the beatitude on meekness. It describes meekness as the state of not being provoked easily by an enemy, oppressor, or evil doer. Their inner strength is patience in the face of adversity, control over their anger so as not to explode quickly and not retaliate readily. They do not assert themselves over others to further their own agendas. They show joy and happiness under dire circumstances because they have faith and trust in God’s provision and plan for their lives. They will try to win over evil by doing good. 

 

It must be in our human and animal (we are part of the animal kingdom, right?) nature to react instinctively to violence with violence. Tooth for a tooth, eye for an eye, is still the rule of the day. Except that weapons of destruction have become so advanced today – involving drones and other advanced technology. It really takes something of the divine to keep people from this tendency to react quickly and retaliate readily.  

 

The Beatitudes are the character demonstrated by the poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, those who are meek – and still more to come in the succeeding weeks in Lent. They describe the character of the kingdom of heaven that begins on earth. They are a call for us to become more like those who are blessed – for they are the character that the disciples are called to take on.