Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:5
STORY
I was alone. Well, not really alone as the aquarium was crowded that morning; but, alone none-the-less as everyone rushed past me, up the ramp, to watch the mighty sharks. Was it their massive jaws or their huge and muscular gray bodies that drew such attention? I suspect it was a fascination with the creature that everyone feared, though now encountered through the safety of thick plexiglas. They marveled at the ruler of the depths of whom all those stories are told and movies made.
Overlooked was the real splendor in the small glass enclosures before me, housing fish no more than a few inches in length. The Flame Angelfish, a brilliant orange highlighted by a yellow body, outlined in fluorescent blue. The Purple Masked Angelfish was hooded in blue with a brilliant golden body. And how do you describe the Queen Angelfish, with alternating colors of brilliant blue, yellow, and white? They may lack the mystique of the shark, but their gentleness solicits awe and astonishment.
Standing there I wondered if there was any truth to Jesus’ teaching that the meek shall inherit the earth. From my perspective there seemed to be more admiration for power than appreciation for beauty. But then, as one child after another returned, bored of the mammoth gray hulks that swim aimlessly about, my confidence was renewed. Nose pressed against the glass one youngster excitedly described the “coloring book” fish. I knew then it will be our child-like gentleness that will one day restore us to the serenity of the Garden.
DEVOTION
N.T. Wright is an Anglican priest. He is recognized as one of the most formidable traditionalist Bible scholars. In 1994 he became the dean of Lichfield Cathedral in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. Lichfield Cathedral is one of only three cathedrals in the United Kingdom with three spires, and the only medieval one of the three. Wright maintains that one of the influences in his theological writings is that he attends worship each morning, and then goes from the sanctuary to his office that is located in the cathedral. It is an office that has a window that overlooks the edifice which was built in 1195.
In an article that he wrote for Christian History magazine that was published in 1998, Wright wrote that one can only understand the resurrection of Jesus by understanding first-century Jewish apocalyptic eschatology. For the Jews the coming of the Messiah would be the climax of history. Therefore, not only did Jesus’ death and resurrection allow for the forgiveness of an individual’s sin, but it also liberated Israel, and by liberating Israel Jesus also liberated the world. In essence the resurrection of Jesus brought froth the kingdom of God upon earth. Wright wrote that with his death and resurrection Jesus took “upon himself the fate of the nation, and thus the world, so that God’s new age would come at last.”
It is a kingdom, that in the words of Jesus, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
We dwell in a world that is both secular and spiritual. The secular world is ruled by money, power, and name recognition. Politicians, CEOs, movie stars, and athletes are the individuals who we ascribed our future to as the rulers of the secular realm. Secular rulers come from a “cult of personality.” The spiritual world ascribes leadership to the meek, the humble, the compassionate, and the gentle. Secular leaders may be narcissistic, self-serving, self-righteous, and lust for power, and we readily reward that. These attributes prevail in a world in which fame and notoriety is celebrated; though, they have no place as representative of God’s kingdom here on earth where only the meek and the humble are the authentic ambassadors of God.
Scripturally, the best example we have of leadership is Moses, as we read in Numbers, “Now the man Moses was very humble, more so than anyone else on the face of the earth.” Moses was not a timid leader, but he was a leader who was obedient to the teachings of God.
You and I are the Moses of this age. We can be strong leaders, though our leadership will always be tempered by humility.
Chromatius is a name that is unfamiliar to us in the annals of church history. Though, his theological writings and participation in conclaves greatly influenced church doctrine. In 388 he was appointed as Bishop of Aquileia. Aquileia is a city in northern Italy, and as bishop a vast territory entrusted to his pastoral care. His ecclesiastical jurisdiction stretched from the present-day territories of Switzerland, Bavaria, Austria and Slovenia, and as far as Hungary. Chromatius wrote a tractate on the Gospel of Matthew. A tractate is a written work dealing formally and systematically with a subject. The word is derived from the Latin word tractatus, meaning treatise. Regarding Matthew 5:5 he wrote, “The meek are those who are gentle, humble and unassuming, simple in faith and patient in the face of every affront. Imbued with the precepts of the gospel, they imitate the meekness of the Lord, who says, ‘Learn from me, for I am meek and humble in heart.’”
As Christ followers, let us be vivacious leaders who are gentle, humble, and most importantly meek.