D
distracted
Guest
The meek shall inherit the earth
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??
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P
pray4peace
Guest
To be meek is to be humble, as to serve. The meek are the true heirs of the legacy of the covenant made by God with Abraham.
J
jprioli
Guest
Jesus says this during his Sermon on the Mount, particularly in the movement of that sermon that we call the Beatitudes. It echoes a phrase from Psalm 37.
In the context of Psalm 37, meekness is contrasted with wickedness and wrongdoing. The meek person patiently trusts in God for vindication. Because the meek person is allied with God, and supported by God’s grace, he will outlast the wicked. (Read Psalm 37 in the context of Psalm 1.)
As Jesus used the reference in the Beatitudes, he was teaching the people about true blessedness. Many people in his day understood worldly standing as a sign of God’s approval. Several of the Beatitudes (including the verse you asked about) turn that idea on its ear.
True blessedness comes from living as the image and likeness of God. After all, as Jesus teaches elsewhere in Matthew’s Gospel, “I am [he is] meek and humble of heart.”
Regards,
Joe
In the context of Psalm 37, meekness is contrasted with wickedness and wrongdoing. The meek person patiently trusts in God for vindication. Because the meek person is allied with God, and supported by God’s grace, he will outlast the wicked. (Read Psalm 37 in the context of Psalm 1.)
As Jesus used the reference in the Beatitudes, he was teaching the people about true blessedness. Many people in his day understood worldly standing as a sign of God’s approval. Several of the Beatitudes (including the verse you asked about) turn that idea on its ear.
True blessedness comes from living as the image and likeness of God. After all, as Jesus teaches elsewhere in Matthew’s Gospel, “I am [he is] meek and humble of heart.”
Regards,
Joe
D
distracted
Guest
thank you very much. that helps a lot… the only problem is… Why “the earth”??? I thought we were supposed to inherit Heaven…??
D
distracted
Guest
thanks… but what does it mean by saying “the earth”???
It seems the more Christian i become… the less material things i own… and the more… well, i don’t know how to say it… I just don’t feel i am inheriting anything much… except Heaven… which of course, is all that counts… but earth, as in this passage, is not Heaven…
right???
D
distracted
Guest
Pray4peace and jprioli:
What religion are you?? How long?? Just curious…
What religion are you?? How long?? Just curious…
D
drforjc
Guest
Please see:The meek shall inherit the earth
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Pope Benedict XVI Jesus of Nazareth New York: Doubleday, 2007 pp.82-84
J
jprioli
Guest
Ahhh… I see your issue now!
The earth was made for us. It will be remade for us. (See Isaiah chapters 65 and 66; see also 2Peter chapter 3, and Revelation chapter 21).
The new earth, it seems, will be closely related to the reality of heaven. The meek will inherit the earth, but not only the earth!
Regards,
Joe
P
pray4peace
Guest
Hi,
I am cradle Catholic over 50 years now.
I am cradle Catholic over 50 years now.
D
distracted
Guest
thanks… that info always helps me to undersand people better…Hi,
I am cradle Catholic over 50 years now.
I am cradle Catholic also… on/off for many years… (I went astray when younger… because i didn’t know the teachings of the Church well… thank God i finally learned them… though i had to teach myself… )…
Still…
I don’t feel i am “inheriting” much…
Hmmm… why do i say that? I am inheriting a lot of good things… it is just that what i am inheriting is not 'things"…
P
pray4peace
Guest
Jesus’ Beatitude is a quotation from Psalm 37:11: “But the meek shall possess the land, they shall delight in abounding peace,” and it taps into a strong biblical vision. Because the Israelites were people of the land, their dreams for peace often included the longing for a time when the land’s bounty would not be destroyed and all could live on the land in peace.thanks… but what does it mean by saying “the earth”???
It seems the more Christian i become… the less material things i own… and the more… well, i don’t know how to say it… I just don’t feel i am inheriting anything much… except Heaven… which of course, is all that counts… but earth, as in this passage, is not Heaven…
right???
Blessings
P
pray4peace
Guest
Yes, I feel I am inheriting all that God gives me, His love, grace, mercy and salvation.
R
richardeekw
Guest
I would advocate you read the Book by our current PopeThe meek shall inherit the earth
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Pope Benedict XVI “Jesus of Nazareth”
The work of a Master Telogian and close to the heart of Christ.
C
Crumpy
Guest
Yes, as in the posts above, being meek is being like Jesus, humble and obedient to the will of his father. Years ago, I heard protestant evangelical voices advising that we put Jesus on the “throne of our life.”
I have mentioned Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book The Cost of Discipleship in these forums. He was Lutheran, very thoroughly so. This book is very theological, and I’m still not finished reading it.
He tries to explain discipleship in its essence and in its extended meanings. The book is thoroughly Lutheran and anti-Catholic, but if you get beyond that, it’s pretty interesting.
As he expands that idea of discipleship, he says that all the beatitudes in the sermon on the mount are a description of what a disciple should be, and he gives an explanation of this from his point of view.
I would paraphrase him like this: When you are a disciple of Jesus, it’s like you and Jesus are on one side of the Grand Canyon, and everything else is on the other side. Your relationship to all those things of the world is now only through Jesus, at every turn.It is partially in this sense that you are a ‘new creation.’
The beatitude about meekness is just one of the descriptions of the disciple.
The cost? It’s worth my time to tell you about this and for you to look into it. As Jesus said in one of his parables, you find this ‘pearl of great price’ and you sell everything else to obtain it.
What we have freely received, we freely give.
I have mentioned Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book The Cost of Discipleship in these forums. He was Lutheran, very thoroughly so. This book is very theological, and I’m still not finished reading it.
He tries to explain discipleship in its essence and in its extended meanings. The book is thoroughly Lutheran and anti-Catholic, but if you get beyond that, it’s pretty interesting.
As he expands that idea of discipleship, he says that all the beatitudes in the sermon on the mount are a description of what a disciple should be, and he gives an explanation of this from his point of view.
I would paraphrase him like this: When you are a disciple of Jesus, it’s like you and Jesus are on one side of the Grand Canyon, and everything else is on the other side. Your relationship to all those things of the world is now only through Jesus, at every turn.It is partially in this sense that you are a ‘new creation.’
The beatitude about meekness is just one of the descriptions of the disciple.
The cost? It’s worth my time to tell you about this and for you to look into it. As Jesus said in one of his parables, you find this ‘pearl of great price’ and you sell everything else to obtain it.
What we have freely received, we freely give.
D
distracted
Guest
that probably isn’t going to happen… all living in peace…
but at least we are not as bad as… say, 60 years ago.
D
distracted
Guest
too bad we let so many other “things” get onto the altar with Him…
Oprah may not like it but God really is a “jealous” God… He doesn’t want to share us with anyone… not because He is selfish… but because He knows that He is all we need… (too bad WE don’t always know it. .).i couldn’t get beyond that… I’ve had more than my share of anti-Catholicism…
P
pray4peace
Guest
We can have hope that one day that there will be peace for all, but maybe not in our lifetime. God has his plan and I trust it. We must do all we can to be Jesus to others, bringing His kingdom here on earth to people we meet.
I find these verses from Revelation give me such hope and trust in God that there will be peace and justice one day.
Revelation
Chapter 21
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
2
I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them (as their God).
4
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, (for) the old order has passed away.”
5
The one who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then he said, “Write these words down, for they are trustworthy and true.”
Blessings
C
Crumpy
Guest
yes, of course, and it’s always so LAME, isn’t it? Yeah (agreeing with myself), except that we must share the truth with the world, we are the light of the world.
D
distracted
Guest
thanks for that scirpture…
3, 4 and 5 remind me of the Real Presence of Christ in the Church… 24/7…
G
guanophore
Guest
I heard that your Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Why don’t you ask Him to sell one, and send you the $?thanks… that info always helps me to undersand people better…
I am cradle Catholic also… on/off for many years… (I went astray when younger… because i didn’t know the teachings of the Church well… thank God i finally learned them… though i had to teach myself… )…
Still…
I don’t feel i am “inheriting” much…
Hmmm… why do i say that? I am inheriting a lot of good things… it is just that what i am inheriting is not 'things"…
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