Bob Nicholas.com

My wife is posting a series on her journey to find the virtue of Meekness in her life.  I am joining the journey as I also need to find this virtue more in my life.  I posted the definition of Meekness below.

So men, here is my question.  How well do we display this virtue?  Most of the time we respond to anger with anger; we respond to injury with injury. 

As the definition states, Paul writes in Thessalonians, "See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seeks to do good to one another and to all" (I Thess. 5:15).

I am now praying for the grace to respond to all with Love.  This, in my opinion, is so counter cultural that I myself think I’m crazy.  Since birth I have been taught that a Man kills and eats his prey.  My father used to tell me that if someone harmed me, to punch them in the face.  In school I got in many fights, some I won, some I did not.  Even now, I find myself sometimes responding in anger to situations that are just begging for a loving response. 

Recently in my life I have responded to two such situations with anger and rude comments.  Rather than building the Body of Christ, I tore it down some with my un-Christ-like response.  I became name brand, like everyone else I responded in selfishness and didn’t consider God’s will.

Men, meekness is a necessity for the Off Brand Dad of the Year Award (more on that later).  We must seek meekness in our lives.  We must not respond in anger to anger or injury.  If our boys and girls see that, we simply perpetuate the culture of death in our family.  We have to strive to be Off Brand, to pursue the culture of life, to pursue Gods will. 

So, let’s start small.  I pledge to Not respond in anger to bad drivers on my commutes to and from work.  And I pledge to Not respond in anger to those in my life who I believe are hurting me, or attacking me or my family.  Rather, I pledge to Love All, even if imperfectly.  I pledge to Be Like Christ, regardless of my pride. 

Join me on this.  I can’t do it alone and neither can you. 

St. Joseph, pray for us.

THE VIRTUE OF MEEKNESS

Meekness is a virtue which moderates the passion of anger according to the dictates of reason, and calms the desire for revenge (St. Thos. II II, 157, 1 & 2). It restrains one from wanting to inflict injury for injury. It enables one, relying on the Father's will, to remain tranquil in the face of wrongs done him (ibid. I II, 69, 3). St. Paul stressed the need of this virtue in his letter to the Thessalonians: "See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seeks to do good to one another and to all" (I Thess. 5:15).

Because of the inclinations of our fallen nature we are usually inclined to avenge every offense, and to resist every adversary. Such is the spirit of the world, but not the spirit of Christ. In time of adversity meekness inclines not to revenge, but to gentleness and patience, to pardon personal insults; and in trials allowed by God's providence – to patience and resignation. It helps us to endure difficulties that we encounter in those of different tastes and dispositions. It is an indispensable aid to charity in bearing wrongs patiently, and avoiding bitterness when misunderstood or undervalued. It saves one from answering back quickly with wounding words, that afterwards one wishes had never been said. In a word, it enables one to endure affronts and injuries in a spirit of mildness dictated by reason enlightened by faith. In all such situations it drives the thought and inclination to revenge out of one's mind and heart, thereby removing a key obstacle to the work of the Holy Spirit in the soul. "Do nothing to sadden the Holy Spirit with whom you were sealed against the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, all passion and anger, harsh words, slander, and malice of every kind" (Eph. 4:30).