Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

Since it may not be obvious why issues surrounding conception, children, and the family should be considered under the rubric of “the blessing,” let us begin with some thoughts on blessing in Scripture and the Church's liturgy. The God of the Bible is the God who blesses, being indeed blessed in himself. Jews acknowledge this when they conclude references to “the Holy One” by exclaiming “Blessed be He!” For Christians, the divine blessedness is closely tied to God's being as Trinity. As the triune life shared by Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God eternally gives and eternally receives – and just so is blessed. It is no accident that liturgical blessings are so often trinitarian in form: “The blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you forever.” God blesses by creating a people. Pouring out blessings upon his people Israel, God extends these riches even to the Gentiles in the creation of the ekklesia . The community of Jesus's followers bears witness to the astonishing gift enacted through his cross and resurrection. The bishop's or pastor's spoken benediction reminds us that we do not have to go out in search of God's blessing. In Jesus Christ, that blessing has come to us (cf. Ephesians 1: 3). Finally, God's blessing is concrete and historical, bound up with the complexities of embodied existence. For Israel, blessing – along ... log in or subscribe to read full text