His Holiness Pope Shenouda addresses the meaning of blessing and its kinds, clarifying that the source of blessing is God and that it has multiple manifestations in a person’s life.
Types of blessing
He lists blessing from God directly, a father’s blessing for his children in the flesh, priests’ blessing for the people, and our blessing to God (praise and acknowledgment of the Lord’s blessing).
Meaning and effect of God’s blessing
He explains that God’s blessing carries goodness, abundance, and sanctification, and is reflected in the fruit of the womb, the fruit of the land, the yield of livestock and property, and that the blessing surrounds a person so that everything around him is blessed.
Biblical examples
He refers to blessings in Genesis (Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham) and to the list of blessings in Deuteronomy 28, and to miracles such as the multiplication of the loaves and fishes and the year’s harvest in Leviticus.
Father’s blessing and priestly blessing
He clarifies that a father’s blessing is drawn from God; fathers bless their children asking the Lord for blessing, and likewise the priestly blessing is a drawing of blessing from God as in the Lord’s instruction to Moses and Aaron in the Book of Numbers.
Blessing as praise and glorification
He links people’s blessing of God to praise and acknowledgment of the Lord’s blessing, and explains that glorifying God means acknowledging God’s glory and blessing, not adding to His greatness.
Spiritual conclusion
The conclusion is that blessing either is given directly by God or is obtained through the blessing of fathers and priests or is expressed by our praising God, and it is an expression of goodness, abundance, and sanctification that springs from the Lord.
For better translation support, please contact the center.
Bible Terms – Blessing
His Holiness Pope Shenouda addresses the meaning of blessing and its kinds, clarifying that the source of blessing is God and that it has multiple manifestations in a person’s life.
Types of blessing
He lists blessing from God directly, a father’s blessing for his children in the flesh, priests’ blessing for the people, and our blessing to God (praise and acknowledgment of the Lord’s blessing).
Meaning and effect of God’s blessing
He explains that God’s blessing carries goodness, abundance, and sanctification, and is reflected in the fruit of the womb, the fruit of the land, the yield of livestock and property, and that the blessing surrounds a person so that everything around him is blessed.
Biblical examples
He refers to blessings in Genesis (Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham) and to the list of blessings in Deuteronomy 28, and to miracles such as the multiplication of the loaves and fishes and the year’s harvest in Leviticus.
Father’s blessing and priestly blessing
He clarifies that a father’s blessing is drawn from God; fathers bless their children asking the Lord for blessing, and likewise the priestly blessing is a drawing of blessing from God as in the Lord’s instruction to Moses and Aaron in the Book of Numbers.
Blessing as praise and glorification
He links people’s blessing of God to praise and acknowledgment of the Lord’s blessing, and explains that glorifying God means acknowledging God’s glory and blessing, not adding to His greatness.
Spiritual conclusion
The conclusion is that blessing either is given directly by God or is obtained through the blessing of fathers and priests or is expressed by our praising God, and it is an expression of goodness, abundance, and sanctification that springs from the Lord.
For better translation support, please contact the center.