Meek Power – Br. Luke Ditewig

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Br. Luke Ditewig

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)

In the seventh century, Aidan, a monk on Iona in Scotland, was sent to establish a monastery on Lindisfarne in northern England. Like Columba who led much missionary work out from Iona, Aidan led great evangelism from Lindisfarne.

Aidan sent monks out, two by two, into the neighboring villages and countryside. He gave two noteworthy instructions: First, travel on foot, not horseback. Second, do not carry a knife or any sort of weapon for defense. Travel then was very dangerous, so this was remarkable.

Aidan instructed ways to live like Jesus, not simply speak about Jesus. Walking instead of riding, they went like their neighbors, as equals instead of with additional power and privilege. Without weapons to fight, they resisted violence with vulnerability. Aidan and the monks embodied the gospel, and they were well received. Offered humbly and meekly, good news spread quickly.

“Humble” and “meek” are similar and from the same word in Hebrew. Humility is a lowliness, not thinking too highly of oneself. Meekness is a gentle, strong patience waiting and seeking justice. When Jesus taught that the meek will inherit the earth, he was quoting Psalm 37.[1] The Book of Common Prayer puts the “lowly shall possess the land” (verse 12), where many translate it “meek” and a few “humble” will “inherit the earth.”

Psalm 37 says that amid prospering and violent evildoers, we are to trust, take delight in, and commit our way to the Lord who cares, upholds, and provides. Such strong patience includes not fretting, being jealous of or enraged by those who “succeed in evil schemes” (verse 8). The meek know and focus on the long view. As the psalmist says: “For the power of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous” (verse 18).

Scott Bessenecker wrote: “The reason that the meek will inherit the earth is that they are naturally disposed to use power in the way it was designed by God to be used—as a guard for the weak and to preserve the common good—in contrast to those with MONOPOLY^TM power, who consolidate wealth and status in a single set of hands at the expense of everyone else.”[2]

Gentle and strong patience does not mean giving in or giving up. The meek are not weak. They use power, often choosing restraint and downward mobility, surprisingly for good. Jesus showed love and leadership by riding a donkey, not a stallion, and by washing feet. Aidan and monks, traveling on foot without weapons, boldly lived and shared the good news.

Consider how you feel the push today for more profit and prestige. Who has modeled meekness for you personally or historically? What might be an invitation to trust God more now with gentle, strong patience? Looking to Jesus who demonstrated love feet first, how might you practice being vulnerable and meek? Ask for the imagination to use your power, including with restraint, for guarding the marginalized and furthering the common good. Like Aidan, may you live the gospel.

[1] S. A. Bessenecker (2009) How to Inherit the Earth: Submitting Ourselves to a Servant Savior (Downers Grove, IL, 2009), 23.

[2] Ibid., 15.