What does Meekness mean in this context? Why meekness?
Dear Pythagoras,
Just as humility can often be misunderstood so can meekness. Both are human attributes. One distinction I read between Humility and Meekness as human attributes is that “Humility” is the attitude a person has toward himself., while “Meekness” refers to behavior toward others – a restraining of one’s own power, so as to allow room for others. Jesus told His disciples to “take His Yoke upon them and learn from Him to be meek and humble of heart.” (cf Mt. 11:29 - 30). The “yoke” of Jesus, it seems to me is His union with His Father’s Will.
Jesus saw Himself as God and One with His Father and the Holy Spirit, in His Divine Nature. He also saw Himself as having assumed a human nature and so was obedient to His Father. Jesus humbled Himself on the Cross and gave Himself for love of His Father and love for us. He came to do the Father’s Will.
Jesus was also meek in his human nature, before Pilate. He restrained His power, allowing Pilate to pronounce sentence upon Him, although He knew He could have a legion of angels to deliver Him. Jesus is a Divine Person with two natures: Divine and Human. He is the God-Man, Word made flesh, Incarnate Son of God.
For St. Faustina, and for Our Blessed Mother and all of us who are merely human, we need to follow Jesus, as His disciples; humbly seeing ourselves as sons and daughters of God to Whom we owe obedience, and also to be able to see when we need to be meek before others in order to better accomplish God’s Will for us.
Meekness does not always restrain itself, however, for sometimes it is important for us to defend the honor of Our Father – as Jesus did in cleansing the temple, and as Moses did, telling the ruler of Egypt, God’s Command : “Let my people go!”
Patience helps a person to keep praying through trials and to keep learning from Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Mary. Hope that helps a bit.
