Beatitudes of Hope - Blessed Are the Meek: What Will I Inherit?

Poor, hungry, weeping, hated. Who would pick these things over peace, joy, wealth, and fortune? I have often confused a sense of contentment with truly following God’s plan. I move throughout my day to day motions of life, failing to recognize where Christ has appeared as the meek and lowly, including in my own lowliness.

When things are going well, it is easy to get excited about serving the mission of Jesus. When the external feedback is positive - likes on social media, revering the creative and outside the box ministry ideas - the work of the Lord is easy. I look around and see overflowing pews at mass, waiting lists for retreats, and abundantly generous responses to appeals aiding victims of the recent wildfires. I observe the excitement of children learning about Carlo Acutis and his path to sainthood as a young person. I listen to the Scriptural interpretations of the 50 children in attendance at my Children’s Liturgy session last Sunday. I assist women religious in East Africa as they learn skills in grant-writing and project management. The church is alive. The church is growing. The church is full of hope.

I am tempted to focus on these experiences of God’s abundance—laughter, family and friends, food to eat, and a sense of security—and equate them with true peace and consolation. These realities can and do elicit prayers of joy and gratitude. “Lord, you are here, you are with me, you are blessing me with your goodness.” The Beatitudes remind us that God is also present with the most vulnerable, poor, and meek, and that their realities are, in fact, sacred and holy as well. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Deep consolation has come from allowing Jesus to meet me and walk through my suffering. While I may not feel like I have “inherited the earth”, I recognize that God has gifted me with his presence. The past year has been isolating and lonely. I have dealt with great personal and ministerial challenges. From abandoned dreams to fractured relationships, I asked myself several times, “why me, what now, what comes next?” Instead of feeling the need to run, I consistently felt God’s gentle urging. “Stay with me, remain here with me, watch and pray.” So I stayed in discomfort, I remained in a state of powerlessness, and I waited for the Lord.

Every day, God kept showing up to me. Every day God reminded me, “I am here and you are with me.” Because God was showing up, so did I. During this past year, particularly in the Lenten season, I have found myself walking alongside Jesus. I’m not Simon, capable of carrying the cross. I just stay nearby, waiting for my moment, for whatever Jesus wants of me. Blessed are the meek; blessed are those who show up in their powerlessness and wait in hope. The meek road to Calvary is a hope-filled journey.

Will there be anything left of this church or this earth for me to inherit? Perhaps not, but perhaps this is my inheritance: “Stay here, remain here with me, watch and pray.” And that is enough for me.

Going Deeper:

• Pray with St. Ignatius’ Suscipe

• Reflect further on Ignatian humility with Three Kinds of Humility

• Consider the Beatitudes as you pray the Beatitudes Awareness Examen

Photo by: Hugo Fergusson on Unsplash

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Jen Coito

Jen Coito was Jesuit-educated in Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University. She has a Masters in Pastoral Theology with a specialization in Spiritual Direction. After working for the California Province of Jesuits and Christian Life Community, Jen and Fr. Tri Dinh, S.J co-founded Christus Ministries, an outreach that bridges young adults and the Church through service, retreats, and leadership formation experiences. Jen also serves the Sisters of Notre Dame in California as the Associate Director of Mission Advancement. Daily life involves juggling her work with awesome nuns and the constant stream of activities with her husband Jason and three children.