In our last post, we discussed the second beatitude and what blessed mourning looks like. In this post, we will take an in-depth look at the third beatitude: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5). Meekness is an essential characteristic of the spiritual person. But what is meekness, and how do we cultivate it?
Be sure to check our blog next week for our post on the fourth beatitude!
5 minutes
What does it mean to be meek?
The word meek has a different meaning for Christians than it does for the rest of the secular world. Outside of the faith, people often conflate meekness with being a pushover. Someone who is meek, in their view, submits to others almost spinelessly. To them, meekness is self-abasement in its worst sense. But to Christians, our Lord’s encouragement toward meekness means something altogether different.
St. John Climacus provides us a beautiful description of blessed meekness:
Meekness is an unchangeable state of mind which remains the same in honor and dishonor. Meekness is the rock overlooking the sea of irritability which breaks all the waves that dash against it, remaining itself unmoved. Meekness is the buttress of patience, the mother of love and the foundation of wisdom, for it is said, “The Lord will teach the meek His way” (Ps 24.9). It prepares the forgiveness of sins; it is boldness in prayer, an abode of the Holy Spirit. “But to whom shall I look,” says the Lord, “to him who is meek and quiet and trembles at my word” (Is 66.2). In meek hearts the Lord finds rest, but a turbulent soul is the seat of the devil.
The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 24
To be meek, then, means to be peaceful, gentle, and kind, empty of all malice, selfishness, and earthly ambition. It means to never return evil for evil, but always in everything to overcome evil by good (cf. Rom 12.14–21). The meek reject every thought and action of the devil, having instead firm conviction that goodness will always be victorious. A Christian may become angry only with himself, at his own fall into sin, and at the tempter — the Devil.
Examples of meek individuals in the Scriptures
In the Old Testament, King David, the Prophet Moses, and the righteous Job were all distinguished by their meekness. The Psalmist especially praises meekness, placing it on a level with truth and righteousness (Ps. 45:4). And the Prophet Isaiah speaks of God’s merciful attitude to man who is meek (Is. 66:2). In the New Testament, St. Paul pays special attention to meekness, insisting it is the best way to convince those who oppose a presbyter (2 Tim. 2:24-25) or correct a sinner (Gal. 6:1). He begs the Ephesians to treat each other with all lowliness and meekness (Eph. 4:2, 1). Moreover, to the rebellious Corinthians, he came not with a rod, but with love, in a spirit of gentleness, (1 Cor. 4:21).
St. Peter sees a meek and quiet spirit as one of the greatest treasures of the human heart, which in God’s sight is very precious (1 Pet. 3:4). Saint James also insists upon meekness in each of us:
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This wisdom is not such as it comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits . . .
James 3:13–17
Our Savior calls us to learn this virtue first and foremost (Matt. 11:29), for it is out of this virtue that all the other virtues grow, including love itself. Moreover, the Lord provides perhaps the best example of meekness, when he prayed on the cross for His enemies. He taught us to not take vengeance on our enemies but to do good to them. Meekness tames even the hardest hearts, as we can see throughout the history of Christian persecution.
Examples of meekness among the Saints
The saints also offer us marvelous examples of meekness. While reading the Gospel during Liturgy, St. John the Almsgiver recalled a cleric he had punished that was angry with him. St. John called him immediately and, falling at his feet, begged him to forgive him and to make peace. Another moving example is that of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk. While in an argument with a local landowner, St. Tikhon was struck in the face. Rather than strike the man back, the saint fell down on his knees and humbly asked forgiveness of the landowner. He said, “For God’s sake, forgive me for bringing you to such a state.”
Through meekness and humility man overcomes his natural self and pride, and spiritually develops towards self-denial in the Name of God and out of love of Him and one’s neighbor.
How can we cultivate meekness in ourselves?
We can help pave the way to meekness in ourselves by deciding to strive for spiritual health in all things, and for abstention in our designs, in thought, in word and in deed. As St. John Chrysostom says, If we are opposed, we will be humble. If anyone is arrogant with us, we will be helpful. If anyone torments or oppresses us by making fun of us or swearing at us, we will not answer in kind, so as not to destroy ourselves through vengeance.
Meekness is directly linked with heartfelt repentance and mourning for our sins and he who considers himself worthy of all sorrows and troubles will be filled with the spirit of meekness and humility. He who is meek offends no one, is angered by no one, is modest and virtuous. He is a stranger to idle curiosity and never refuses his help to those who are suffering, doing good quietly and without notice. This virtue is as difficult to attain as it is great, for it demands much effort and struggle within the one who wishes to attain it. First he must overcome his irritability, impatience, touchiness and irascibility, for by overcoming his passions, he attains modesty and meekness. This, however, is only the beginning of his growth in this virtue.
For they shall inherit the earth
The Lord blesses the meek with the promise that they will inherit the earth. In other words, the power of God will preserve them on earth, in spite of all the intrigues of men and the most cruel persecution. Many in the world expected the meek, the most defenseless and oppressed of all, to perish in the first centuries of the Christian era at the hands of pagans. But those meek Saints have indeed been blessed and have inherited the earth that was formerly ruled by those who persecuted them. Let us take heart from their example, so that we, too, can be heirs of the heavenly homeland, the new earth (II Peter 3:13) with its eternal blessings.
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