However Biblically, meekness has a completely different meaning. In seminary, we were taught that “meekness is
not weakness.” When Zechariah wrote the
verses in our first reading today, “See, your king shall come to you; a
just savior is he, meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass,”
he was not referring to a weak and wishy-washy person. This king will banish the instruments of
violence and establish peace. And, “His
dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth”
(Zec 9:10). This king is strong. When Jesus describes himself in today’s
Gospel from Matthew 11:25-30 as “meek and humble of heart,” he is not
insinuating that he is a doormat.
My favorite simple definition of meekness is strength under
control. What solidifies this
definition for me is the image of the yoke that Jesus uses. He says “my yoke is easy and my burden is
light.” A yoke in those days was a
curved piece of wood fitted on the neck of two oxen teaming them together so
they could pull a plow. There isn’t
anything much stronger than an ox which is why we say he/she “is as strong as
on ox.” With the yoke attached the oxen
are strength under control. Which bring
me to another definition of meekness that really resonates with me.
Michael Krauszer writes in Patheos: Hosting the
Conversation on Faith, an ecumenical blog, that, “Meekness, according to
the Bible, is being humble and gentle towards others and willingly being
submissive and obedient to the Lord. It is not being selfish and arrogant, loud
or obnoxious. Rather, it’s having a quiet but confident trust in the Lord and
being willing and able to do whatever it is He commands” (October 7,
2015).
Citizenship in the Kingdom of God requires meekness,
strength under control. We are asked to
put our egos aside, consolidate our strengths and put them into the hands of
God our Father so that together we can build a world of peace and justice.
To the childlike, O God, you reveal yourself,
and on those who are meek and humble of heart
you promise the inheritance of your kingdom.
Refresh our weary spirits
with the teaching of Christ,
that with him we may shoulder the gentle yoke of the cross,
and proclaim to everyone
the joy that comes from you alone.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your
Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
AMEN.
Prayer: Copyright © 2016 Bibleclaret. All Rights
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