From a talk on the Beatitudes http://enteringmystery.wordpress.com/

1. Blessed are the meek For they shall inherit the earth

2. Meekness What is meekness? What examples do we have? How can we achieve it? What does it mean to inherit the earth?

3. The Greek Word: Πραός To make tame

4. Aristotle Meekness is the midway point between anger and indifference

5. Psalm 37:11 “But the meek shall inherit the earth” «οἱ δὲ πραεῖς κληρονομήσουσι γῆν» עֲנָוִיםanavim = lowly ones

6. Meek??? Meek is the Old Norse word for "soft"— mjark.

7. What is meekness? Meekness is to reject every thought and action of external coercion, hostility, and violence. It is to be gentle and kind, and to be empty of all selfishness and earthly ambition.

8. To be meek means to be gentle and kind, to be empty of all selfishness and earthly ambition. It means, in a word, never to return evil for evil, but always in everything to overcome evil by good. (Cf. Romans 12:14-21)

9. “Meekness is to have the firm and calm conviction that the good is more powerful than evil, and that the good ultimately is always victorious” Fr. Thomas Hopko

10. Uriah Heap I’m ever so ‘umble... An ‘umble, ‘umble man

11. Abraham

12. Moses "meek above everyone on the face of the earth" (Numbers 12:3).

13. In the Psalms “God leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble his ways.” “God adorns the humble with victory”

14. : "Here I am, the servant of the Lord:Let it be with me just as you have said" (Lk 1:38).

15. Jesus and the MoneyChangers

16. Meekness Does Not Deny Force

17. Meekness Does Not Mean Weakness It is clear then that true meekness does not mean cowardice or capitulation, but involves persistence in completing its mission whatever the obstacles may be, even if doing so leads to death. The meek person does not wish to destroy others, but does not retreat from sacrificing himself if the need arises. Jesus the meek was not passive but firm in his position toward the glorious of the world. This is apparent in the incident told to us by the evangelist Luke: “The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him: Get out, and depart from here, for Herod will kill you. And he said unto them: Go you, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless I must walk today, and tomorrow, and the following day” (Luke 13:31-33). We find that same determination and resolve — the determination of someone who gave his life voluntarily for the sake of completing the mission of love which he took upon himself — in the position of Jesus when he fell into the hands of his enemies and during his unjust trial: we see him acting toward his frightened and nervous enemies and judges as if he were the judge, not as one to be judged, in meekness accompanied by strong, quiet resolve.

18. Meekness Does Not Contradict Combating Evil

21. Ways to Gain Meekness

22. The Violence of Love

23. St. Moses the Black

24. St. Seraphim of Sarov

25. St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

26. Staretz Ambrose of Optina “Whoever slanders us - showers us with gifts, and whoever praises us - robs us .”

27. What meekness isn’t? Not moralistic Not Anger Management Not just a virtue Being a wimp Never disagreeing Being a doormat

28. ... will inherit the earth ... Where God lives and rules In complete relationship and communion with God Yielding to God’s Call and Purpose

29. Meekness is an unchangeable state of mind which remains the same in honour and dishonour. Meekness is the rock overlooking the sea of irritability which breaks all the waves that dash against it, remaining itself unmoved. Meekness is the buttress of patience, the mother of love and the foundation of wisdom, for it is said, "The Lord will teach the meek His way." (Psalm 24:9) It prepares the forgiveness of sins; it is boldness in prayer, an abode of the Holy Spirit. "But to whom shall I look," says the Lord, "to him who is meek and quiet and trembles at my word." (Isaiah 66:2) In meek hearts the Lord finds rest, but a turbulent soul is the seat of the devil. (The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 24)

30. St. Clement of Alexandria the meek are those who have quelled the battle of unbelief in the soul, the battle of wrath and lust, and the other forms that are subject to them.

31. Meekness stops Trying to be competitive at the expense of others The need to be in control The need to make ourselves feel important by putting others down

32. For Discussion How would you define the quality of meekness? Is God telling us to be wimps? Does meekness mean being a doormat? Does it mean always doing what others want? What about the word ‘πράος΄ ? Does that help? What does it mean to ‘inherit the earth?’