A Thought For The Week Of April 30

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." The third Beatitude - and a very interestng one. Meekness is not something valued in our society. We tend to equate meekness with weakness. It's the strong who get ahead; those with brute strength who are willing to use brute force who succeed. And now Jesus turns our thinking upside down, as He often does. What's so great about "meekness?" That's what I find myself asking. But maybe that's it - maybe it has to do with the idea of turning our thinking upside down. Those who are meek know they have to rely on God. They can't do it alone. Those who depend on their strength and their abiliity to force others to give them their way aren't depending on God at all. They think they can do it all for themselves. They may gain "power" of some sort, but in the process they may also lose their souls. The truth is - I can't do it all for myself. Neither can you. Sometimes all of us simply have to embrace "meekness" and realize that, in fact, there's great strength to be found in being meek - not the strength of brute force, but the strength of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to do the impossible. Have a great week!