Article May 22, 1926 Issue

Meekness

SOPHIE WEINERT

The third beatitude given by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount, reads, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." What is this inheritance reserved for the meek? It is not material possessions, the pride of power, or the gratification of the material senses. We are told in the first chapter of Genesis that "God created the heaven and the earth." Then the real earth must be like God, spiritual and perfect.

What is the real significance of meekness? A dictionary defines it as being "patient under injuries; forbearing; humble." And because the world has too often seen an exhibition of these qualities resulting from timidity, it has come to couple the term "meekness" with weakness, thus holding it up to contempt. But this is a misconception of the word. A careful study of "meekness," as used by Mary Baker Eddy in her various writings, and as it is also used in the Bible, finds it coupled in every instance with such high mental attributes as might, charity, spirituality, temperance, and love. In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 83) Mrs. Eddy, our revered Leader, says, "In the life of our Lord, meekness was as conspicuous as might." Peter writes of Jesus that "when he was reviled, [he] reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." Thus was Jesus' meekness attested in a patience and forbearance so far exceeding that of mortals that many mistook his attitude for submissiveness. To understand even in limited degree such greatness, one must have approximated somewhat "unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."

The Bible throughout enjoins us to put on meekness, coupling the command with rich promises. We are told that "Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth," and that "the Lord spake unto Moses." In Psalms we read, "The Lord lifteth up the meek." And James assures us that "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." God likewise spoke through Mrs. Eddy, in whom meekness and spirituality were so wonderfully exemplified that she was enabled in later years to become His mouthpiece.

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