“God bless you!!”
How many times have you heard that after you sneeze? And how many OTHER times has someone asked God to bless you? Far fewer, I am guessing... But wouldn’t it be nice if we invoked God’s presence on behalf of each other at times other than sneezing?
“A blessing,” declares Irish poet and teacher John O’Donohue in his book TO BLESS THE SPACE BETWEEN US,“ is not a sentiment... it is a gracious invocation where the human heart pleads with the divine heart (on behalf of another). A blessing can be like the discovery of a fresh well... when a blessing is invoked it can change the atmosphere.”
Despite all the darkness in the world, HOPE is based on the fact that at the deepest level of existence there is an eternal INTIMATE KINDNESS and LOVE which is of God...
When we “bless” each other, we are calling forth the presence of the Holy Spirit into another’s life and being.
Celtic Christians acknowledged God’s presence in every aspect of their living and asked God to bless them in each and every activity from morning until night.
Of the countless beautiful “Irish blessings” written throughout history, perhaps none is as well-known as this one:
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
May the rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of God’s hand.
One of our choir’s favorite anthems is this OLD IRISH BLESSING arranged by Denes Agay. (Click here to listen). If you worship with us this Sunday you will hear the choir sing it as their final anthem until they return in September.
As you soak up the exquisite music, may your spirit be blessed! May you walk gently into the day, ready to see the blessings which surround you always and may you BE a blessing to all who cross your path...
Amen.
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