👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾(#Anqetse #bitsuan) #Blessed are the #meek, for they shall #inherit the #earth
(Matthew 5:5 )
( Part 13)
Dear brothers and sisters who follow the Orthodox teachings ,we greet you with the peace of God. Today’s teaching is presented based on the above topic. May you read it attentively and learn from it with understanding.
✍🏾Saint John the Baptist’s Teaching on Meekness
“All virtues are good. But meekness is the most important of all. Meekness is the virtue that distinguishes man from beasts and makes him like the holy angels. That is why our Lord Jesus Christ taught and praised meekness in words. He did not only teach us in words but also showed us in action.”(Homily 61 on the Gospel of John)
Saint John teaches that meekness lifts humanity above the impulses of anger and pride, shaping us into the image of the angels. It is the virtue by which we become truly human gentle, patient, and filled with divine grace.
✍🏾Meekness — The Weapon of Christ Against the Devil
“If you are like Christ, the devil cannot see you face to face. He knows the form of Christ, and he knows the weapons of Christ, and he has been severely wounded by this. These are humility and meekness. Because Christ did not conquer the devil in Corinth by declaring that He was Christ, but with these words, He trapped him and chased him away with humility and meekness.”(Homily 78 on the Gospel of John)
Saint John reveals that meekness and humility are the true weapons of Christ. The devil cannot withstand them, for these virtues destroyed his power at the Cross. A meek soul, therefore, is stronger than any sword it defeats evil without hatred and conquers through peace.
✍🏾The Beauty of a Meek Tongue
“Though your mouth be made of gold or precious stones, it cannot shine like a tongue adorned with the jewel of meekness.”(Homily 78 on the Gospel of John)
A gentle word spoken from a meek heart is more beautiful than any earthly treasure. Speech seasoned with meekness carries the grace of the Holy Spirit and builds peace among all who hear it.
✍🏾Meekness Quenches Anger
“There is no greater power than meekness. As fire is quenched by water, so a mind filled with anger is quenched by meekness. By meekness we practice other works of virtue, we quench our brother’s anger, and we save our brother’s mind from anxiety.”
(Homily 2 and 15 on the Gospel of John)
Meekness extinguishes anger just as cool water calms fire. It brings peace to the heart and unity among believers. Through meekness we learn forgiveness, patience, and true spiritual strength.
✍🏾Meekness in Suffering
“What could be more difficult than these commandments? It is not enough to suffer alone. But like a dove, we should not be angry at the suffering we suffer, for anger is quenched not by anger, but by meekness.”(Homily 33 on the Gospel of Matthew)
✍🏾False and Imitation Meekness
We must distinguish between true meekness and false or imitation meekness. True meekness comes from spiritual maturity and inner strength, while false meekness arises from fear, lack of self-confidence, or a sense of inferiority. Such false meekness easily changes into pride, selfishness, and arrogance when circumstances shift.
✍🏾Fake meekness is an insincere meekness practiced for selfish motives such as gaining recognition, false praise, power, wealth, knowledge, or other worldly benefits or with the hidden intention of harming others. We must guard ourselves against this kind of deceitful meekness, which hides behind outward gentleness, and we must not be deceived by its appearance.
Continues 👇🏾