Chaplain’s Column

What does it mean to be meek?

The word “meek” is a word that is not used much today and may not be well understood.

For many people, the only time they may have heard the word “meek” used was in the movie ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ when Dorothy met the great and powerful Oz, and introduced herself “I am Dorothy, the small and meek.”

We are coming close to Easter and in the next week we will remember in a special way the events that led up to the day of the Lord’s resurrection.

Jesus will enter Jerusalem for the last time to fulfill the prophecy of the Prophet Zechariah “Shout for joy, a daughter Jerusalem! 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 (Zec. 9:9).”

Meekness might not be the first word that comes to mind when we think of a king. But Jesus tells us “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves (Mt. 11:28-29).”

Meekness might be one of the least admired character qualities today and yet the greatest person who walked the earth was “meek and humble of heart.”

Meekness is not weakness, it is better translated as “power under control,” and “quiet strength.”

The word “meek” was translated from the Greek word “praus” which is a military term referring to a horse. Wild stallions were brought down from the mountains and trained. Some were used for pulling carts and racing, but the finest stallions were trained for war.

The word “meek” was used to describe a horse that was trained to obey instantly and absolutely, no matter how difficult the battle. These war horses were tremendously powerful, yet their power was under complete control.

While they were gentle to their riders, they were fierce in battle. They could gallop into battle and come to a sliding stop at a word.

They were not frightened by arrows, swords, or torches. They were said to be meek.

Meekness allows us to keep our grip, to remain ourselves in the midst of adversity. It is quiet strength that allows us to control anger so that it doesn’t conquer us.

Meekness prevents evil from overcoming us so that we can respond by doing good.

Jesus wants to help lighten our burdens, give us rest and fill us with quiet inner strength.

There is a beautiful short prayer to help us grow in meekness: “Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine.”