Perhaps you’ve heard someone say: “He/She’s so meek.” More than likely you were thinking that in terms of emotional or social weakness of some sort – maybe being shy. But the biblical meaning of the word meek is different than what this generation of English speaking people understand it to be. When Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount the word meek meant humble and gentle in spirit. This particular verse may also be a reference to Psalm 37:11 which states the meek will enjoy peace. Jesus says they will inherit the earth, meaning they will have a share in possessing the land. Humility is not a weak character trait, humility is akin to having a spirit of sound thinking, of being a person who is able to reason with others, respecting both those in authority over them and those whom they have they authority over. People who are interested in having position, prestige or things over having faithful and respectful relationships are not known as being humble. They are known as being arrogant, hard-hearted, strong-willed and selfish. Certainly some of them might be known as criminals and some criminals have become famous and their lives glamorized by the media. But that fame is not necessarily a blessing to anyone.

Most of the people who are noted in history to be great leaders are people who are also noted as having a sense of humility. These are the people, Jesus says, that will have a share in possessing land and living in peace. Peace on earth. It’s something we seem to talk about often and yet it seems to keep eluding us, perhaps that is because there are not enough people interested in developing their character before trying to develop their careers or their bank accounts.

Jesus also tells his disciples that the people who hunger and thirst for righteousness are going to be filled. What do you hunger for? What do you crave in life? Again our answers reflect our inner character. If you are hungry for recognition and praise, for wealth, then those are things you will seek and your life will be filled with. If you are hungry for right relationships with God and other people you will be spending your time with God, in reading and studying the bible, and in helping other people and you will spend your wealth to meet your needs and help other people. Your accumulation of stuff might not compare to that of some other people but you will be filled with a spirit of contentment and satisfaction in knowing you have enough.

Blessings come to those are humble and those who seek righteousness. Not being self-righteous, but righteousness and humility in knowing that we are in need of God, that without God’s spirit we can’t really accomplish much in our peacemaking, or having a heavenly kingdom on earth.

Let us pray,

Lord God, forgive us for our self-righteousness and arrogant ways. Soften hard-hearts, break our wills and make them yours. Grant us a spirit of humility and help us to seek right and peaceful relationships with you and other people. Give people a spirit of true repentance and a pure desire for reconciliation that we may bring peace of mind and heart to people in our midst and elsewhere and fulfill your hope and ours for peace on earth. AMEN