Third Day
SECOND BEATITUDE
To be meek. — Matt. v. 4.
BLESSED are the meek.' ‘Learn of me, for I am meek and humble of hear.[1] Meek — that is to say, free from bitterness, from presumption, from disdain; never taking advantage of others, nor insulting the unfortunate, nor even offending the proud, but trying to win them by gentleness; mild even with those who are sharp; not meeting temper with temper, or violence with violence, but moderating excess in others by gentle words. Such is true meekness.
There are false kinds of meekness — contemptuous, full of hidden pride, effrontery and affectation of mildness — which are more unkind and more insulting than open roughness.
But let us reflect on the meekness of Jesus Christ, of which the Holy Spirit speaks as
- ↑ Matt. xii. 29.
