Meekness and Mercy
Day 27 of our 40 Days of Mercy Fast
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Meekness and Mercy
‘You shall conquer by meekness.’ (1597)
Meekness is about having power and choosing not to use it. For Love’s sake. From Love’s power. The soul that is genuinely meek is founded on the God of the Universe who stooped down in Mercy to make him/her great.
Meekness arises out of humility. The meek soul must first be a humble one, living in moment-by-moment dependence upon Mercy. At once miserable and mighty, the meek soul courageously accepts the call to represent God in his/her humanity. (S)he does not question (for long) personal dignity and honor, for to do so would be to question God’s. Mercy secures the meek soul.
So the meek do not race to self-defense. Why should they? The God of the Universe defends them, and in that shelter, they rest from the folly of mere human opinion. Of course they share the truth as they understand it, but it is a tempered truth. The still, small voice of God requires little amplification.
I have caused unnecessary suffering to others due to my lack of meekness. I have often not understood the power of my voice, and in frustration have turned it up mercilessly. That has seared the saints at times, much to my shame. Wise shepherds and sheep alike have told me this truth until I have understood it. Change takes longer.
Change requires suffering, getting and staying low before the Crucified until the heart beats and voice speaks in sync with His own. Christoph Schonberg writes of the Virgin Mary, the original Christ-bearer who is in turn a model for all Christians: ‘Mary triumphs, not with a sword in her hand, but with a sword in her heart.’
My sword is a daily reminder of the hurt I have caused others, and can still cause them, due to meekness’ lack. So I seek Him daily for the sword that pricks, the meekness that restrains, the Mercy that looses my heart and tongue as He wills.
The meek trust Mercy, and possess a quiet confidence. St. Faustina writes:
‘When my intentions are not recognized but rather condemned, I am not too much surprised…Truth will not die, and the wounded heart will regain peace in due time, and my spirit is strengthened through adversities…When I have regained my equilibrium, I say more.’ (511)
The meek trust in part the truth as they understand it; they trust in full the Truth of Mercy. All is His, and everything He has is ours.
‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’ (Matt. 11:28-30) ‘Jesus gave me to know the depth of His meekness and humility and to understand that He clearly demanded the same of me.’ (758)
‘In Your Mercy, make us meek, O God. Truth burns in our hearts; temper it with Mercy. May our words convey a heart founded on Your meekness and humility. May less prove to be more in our efforts to convey Your truth to others. Show us how to pierce hearts with a few well-aimed and timed arrows. Make us meek warriors through Your Mercy.’
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Author’s note – Each day’s entry is based a passage from St Faustina’s diary. The passage entry is the number in parentheses at the end of each opening quote or simply a page number in parenthesis. Diary of St Maria Faustina Kowalska – Divine Mercy in My Soul (Association of Marion Helpers, Stockbridge, MA 01263) is available through the publisher or Amazon.com.
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