The Blessing

 Reflection on Today's Readings, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Friday Ist January, 2021

Texts: Num. 6:22-27; Ps. 67:2-3.5.6.8; Heb. 1:1-2; Luke 2:16-21

Thanks and praise to our God who has made it possible for us to witness another year. Yes, it is out of His love that he has granted us such a favour. We are saying, today, "Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ" (Eph. 1:3).

Today's first reading reminds us that blessing is from God; it is a gift of God. Blessing is a pronouncement made in the name of God, a pronouncement in which God is asked to grant good gifts to a person or people. In all, it is God who blesses. Hence, Aaron was asked to bless the people thus: "The Lord bless you and keep you: The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you: The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace." The priest pronounce the blessings in the name of the God, but God gives the blessings. The Church says, "Blessing is a divine and life-giving action, the source is the Father; his blessing is both word and gift. When applied to man, the word 'blessing' means adoration, and surrender to his Creator in Thanksgiving" (CCC no. 1078). God needs nothing from man, when man bless God or give Him blessings, it means he adores Him and surrender to Him in Thanksgiving. Both His promise and endowment are blessings. 

The pronouncement, " the Lord bless you and keep you" reminds us that God is the source of all good gifts and that He is our Protector. The words "the Lord bless you" invokes God to give you gifts, while "and keep you" invokes God for safety, security and protection. It is a call to put our hope in God for gifts, safety, security and protection. 

The pronouncement, "The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you" reminds us that we need God's abiding presence, illumination and grace, our efforts or strength is not enough. The words, "The Lord make his face to shine upon you" is about our need of God's abiding presence, and His illumination. It calls to mind the revelation of St. John: "They will see the Lord face to face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. It will never be night again and they will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will be shining on them" (22:4-5). It pleads for life in God's presence. It reminds us that we need to dwell in God's presence always. The 'being gracious' is about our need of God's grace. Grace is not the result of our efforts, but the result of God's love and mercy. It reminds us that we need God's grace. 

The pronouncement "The Lord lift his countenance upon you, and give you peace" is about our need of God's good pleasure, affection, well-being, health, security, unity, completeness, wholeness, prosperity and salvation. It reminds us that only God can give them.

The responsorial psalm reminds us that blessing is also for glorification and revelation of God; it is not for man's good and sanctification alone. The psalm begins thus, "O God be gracious and bless us and let your face shed its light upon us. So that your ways may be known upon earth and all nations learn your salvation." It ends thus: "May God still give us his blessing that all the ends of the earth may revere him." God gives blessings for the good and salvation of man and to reveal and glorify Himself. Hence, in today's gospel reading, it is said, "And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen". They had seen the blessing of God, Jesus Christ, and heard the promise of salvation. 

The greatest blessings we have received from God are His Son and the Holy Spirit. In His Son, Jesus Christ, He has given us blessings upon blessings. God has given us Himself in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. St. Paul, in the second reading, reminds us that Jesus Christ is a blessing from God when he says, "When the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." The Virgin Mary Mother of God is also a blessing to humanity, for God has given us Jesus Christ through her. The Church says, "The divine blessings were made manifest in astonishing and saving events: the birth of Isaac, the escape from Egypt (Passover and Exodus), the gift of the promised land, the election of David, the presence God in the Temple, the purifying exile and return of a 'small remnant'" (CCC no. 1081).  It is also said, "From the beginning until the end of time the whole of God's work is a blessing. From the liturgical peom of the first creation to the canticles of the heavenly Jerusalem, the inspired authors proclaim the plan of salvation as one vast divine blessing" (CCC no. 1079). 

The Church traces the blessing of God to the time of creation. It is said, "From the very beginning God blessed all living beings, especially man and woman. The covenant with Noah and with all living things renewed this blessing of fruitfulness despite man's sin which had brought a curse on the ground. But with Abraham, the divine blessing entered into human history which was moving towards death, to redirect it towards life, towards its source. By the faith of 'the father of all believers,' who embraced the blessings, the history of salvation is inaugurated" (CCC no. 1080). God's blessing is indestructible, it is everlasting.

Today, as we begin the new year, we are called to look up to God's blessing. This means we have to be obedient to His instructions. Let us listen to Scripture saying, "But if you faithfully obey the voice of Yahweh your God, by keeping and observing all his commandments, which I am laying down for you today, Yahweh your God will raise you higher than every other nation in the world, and all these blessings will fall on you and overtake you, for having obeyed the voice of Yahweh your God" (Deut. 28:1-2). Isaiah also says, "If you are willing to obey, you shall eat the good things of the earth" (1:19).

Lord our God, we thank for all Your blessings to you last year, we beg you to bless us this year according to Your riches in glory. Amen.

Rev. Fr. Andrew Olowomuke