by LuisP » Mon May 19, 2014 4:54 pm
Well, quite a stir, it seems !
All because of meekness.
Thing is,
I am familiar with the Third Beatitude and its Lesson (Oh yes I am !), but I should point out that it is an allegorical narrative. Yes, I am also extremely (handpalmed like) familiar with the notions of what I can best translate as “Tamed Anger” or “Controlled Strength” as the “true” meaning behind the “humbleness” or the “meekness” alluded in it, so as to (ahem) reinforce the fact that being “meek” is NOT a sign of sheep-like submissiveness or – to be less callous – a simple manifestation of the ability to accept everything with a consenting attitude.
Two points, though, on that :
1 – Two Thousand Years after its utterance, no need to dig out personal “interpretations” of generally assumed allegories or, even less, to absorb absolutely recondite and erudite initial semantic meanings ascertained to a given adjective that has survived the test of time, and has therefore a widely accepted meaning regardless of its “correct” intention .
For above these – very important, yes – roots, lies the unquestionable fact that “Meek” has nowadays (and since VERY long) been generally assumed to represent cowed submissiveness, a very docile temperament or, simply put in today’s “simpleness”, as synonym of a “Yes-Man”.
It is this that any Joe will mean, when saying of another, “He is a meek guy”. I’d think that you all may agree on this (ahem) popular definition, even if, an Academia like erroneous one.
2 – The Bible has a lot to learn from, and Teach. It is a Sacred Collection of 73 Books (Catholic wise, I mean) comprising 46 from the Old Testament and 27 from the New Testament.
If we’re “uplifting” a discussion about adjectives and their “meanings” into the quicksand realm of those Books (you listening, Traveler ?), okay, well then, I’d like to “counter-argument” with the following Passages :
2.1 - Hebrews 10:26-31 “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment”
2.2 - Ephesians 5:6 : "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things comes the wrath of God”.
2.3 - Romans 10:1-21 : “Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.”
So, on one hand Wrath is one of the Divine perfections and it is not an abstract quality as - just to mention a few - the Flood, Sodom and Gormorrah’s annihilation , the Egyptian Plagues, the destruction of the Pharaoh’s armies and the slew of their first born, abundantly shows.
On the other hand, that is why Sinners are forever threatened with God's wrath, for they are by nature "children of wrath." They exist, and are His children, even if misguided ones and, because of it, under “threat” of His wrath because they have not yet “receiv(ed) the knowledge of the truth” and may therefore repent through a “remain(ing) sacrifice for sins”.
Yes, these Sinners exist and will utter perhaps "vain words", but nonetheless merit that “they may be saved”. For (St.Paul’s) “bear them witness that they have a zeal for God”.
And since “Vengeance is Mine”, said Him, (and not we) so let them exist, the “children of Wrath”, for their existence surely has a reason !
There’s a counter to every part, is there not ?
Why ? Beats me !
Ask Him.
And be gentle with the Palmatoria, meanwhile, if you please ….
Unless you yourselves want to be guilty of Haughtiness and Pride ! Meaning, equal Sins subjected henceforth to equal Threat.
I love indulging in “Biblelese”.
Go figure talking about it here.
But hey…
(You asleep already, Rose ? Damn ….!)
