Blessed are the Meek

Imagine yourself dear reader, on a mountainside, with the disciples of Christ and a multitude of people from surrounding places who wanted to learn from Christ.   He sat down to teach them what it meant to be in the Kingdom of God.  They were to learn what good they were to seek, and the evil they were to turn from.  But in using the word 'Blessed'.... He is showing that living out these teachings is not about earthly pleasures, but Heavenly joy, even here on earth.  

So lets look at this 'Beatitude' referred to above.

'Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. '  Matthew 5:5

This essentially is telling us that when someone provokes us by insult or anger, we need to keep control over our own 'natural' defensive reaction. Instead we need to provide a soft response that changes the interaction from aggression to understanding, appropriate humour, kindness or some other loving diverting response, which will re-establish harmony.

So here is this teaching from Jesus, with these words encouraging us to 'turn the other cheek' or as Proverbs tells us,          

Wrath destroys even men of discernment;
But a humble answer turns away anger,
And a grievous word stirs up wrath.       Proverbs 15:1

and through the generations those willing to hear still seek to put this into practice!

Now imagine yourself in a place filled with young men either doing body building, or learning a martial art. An older man, on television last night, was warning these young men about the need to let go of aggressive defensiveness, because it could lead you into jail.  He told a true story  of a man who was getting aggressive with someone in a bar,  and fell with his head hitting something hard when the defender pushed him back. The aggressor died.  This had actually happened, and the defender ended in jail for 5 years. So this older man taught these young men how to 'turn away wrath' in a pub setting.  

He acted out with them typical provoking comments when men have been drinking, "What are you looking at?"  "Are you looking at my girlfriend?" ...and gave them alternative responses, " I really like your jumper. Its a great colour/style.  Where did you get it?"   and  "She looks just like a girl I knew called Melanie.  Is her name Melanie? - "      Another response I have heard said to someone getting aggressive without provocation, is, "Have you had a hard day? Is there anything I can do?"  And her anger was diffused.   People often act aggressively when physical pain is bad, so in not reacting to their bad-temper, but asking about the pain, the aggression is diffused. 

All these responses turn the wrath and also invite a normal human response back.  So lets face the wrathful things that we may encounter with new intent to enter into the Kingdom of God,  showing Christ's forgiveness, understanding and forbearance.  Let's continue to seek unity, and in meekness respond to all forms of aggression.

Lord have mercy on us and on Your whole world. Amen