Luke 6: 20-31 Blessing
3 November 2013
The Bible Scholar R Alan Culpeper reminds us that we, especially in the West, have forgotten the idea of Blessing; the tradition of Blessing; the realisation that blessing has a real power and can be a genuine force for good, a force for God, in the world.
From the first books of the Bible, we learn of the great characters and personalities of scripture offered their blessing: on families, on friends, on places and events. A number of Christians today still practice this - asking God to bring down a blessing upon other people, other situations; for no other reason that they wish them well and that the thing or the person, that they seek a blessing for, contributes to the Common Good.
To make the world just that little bit a better place.
For that’s what Blessing is.
From the very beginning of God’s relationship with humankind, the intention from the Creator was that we - little you and little me - should feel - and be - blessed, and that we should be a blessing to others. That is the beginning, middle and end of God’s mission to the world.
I am reminded of one of those great role models of Christianity - someone who strove to be Christ-like in a world that otherwise couldn’t care less about him - St Francis of Assisi, and his blessing of one of his fellow-travellers Bernard. He offered him the great Old Testament blessing: The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you. The Lord turn his countenance towards you and look kindly upon you. The Lord bless you and give you his peace.
And then, of course, Jesus sent his disciples out into the towns and countryside with the instruction that they give their blessing on the people and places they encounter; their Shalom - God’s great gift of peace to all humankind.
Which is what we are encouraged to do, too: to bless our families and friends, our loved ones and, indeed, anyone we come across. We don’t necessarily have to do so out loud. We can do it quietly, silently if necessary; like a prayer. Just whenever we enter a place, take part in an event or a meeting, visit friends, share time with loved ones, we can give them God’s blessing.
We can even offer God’s blessing when we go into a shop or have a telephone conversation with some person, some representative of a organisation perhaps. When we finish a conversation, we can say ‘God Bless’.
After all, that’s what we are doing when we bid farewell to anyone. Because, when we say ‘goodbye’ we are actually saying ‘God be with you.’ The phrase has just become shortened over time.
Offering God’s blessing on others is not fanciful thinking. After all, if everyone went around wishing peace and goodwill on everyone they meet - give them a blessing - would that not make the world a better place?
And, even if it is just us, little you and little me, even that makes this world a better place. It puts a little golden sheen on this beautiful, wonderful, perplexing, astonishing creation, doesn’t it?
In short, we underestimate the power of blessing in our lives at our cost. And at the cost to humankind and creation generally.
So let’s try and remember to pass something of that blessing we have been given by God on to others.
God bless.