The Priest: A Blessing and One Who Blesses
The Priest: A Blessing and One Who Blesses
A priest is not only expected to bless others but also to be a blessing himself.
This is what the Lord said to our father Abraham, the father of the patriarchs, at his first calling:
“I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing… and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2–3)
In the same way, Elijah was a blessing in the house of the widow of Zarephath in Sidon. By his blessing during the famine, “the bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry… until the day the Lord sent rain on the earth.” (1 Kings 17:16, 14)
Likewise, Elisha was a blessing in the house of the Shunammite woman.
And how beautiful what was said about Joseph the Righteous while he was in Potiphar’s house:
“The Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field.” (Genesis 39:5)
Thus, the priest ought to be a blessing wherever he goes.
This is also the faith of the people in the blessing of the priest.
They seek the blessing of his prayers for them—just as Hannah did when she prayed for a son while fasting. When she heard the words of Eli the priest, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition,” “the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.” (1 Samuel 1:18) The Lord fulfilled the priest’s prayer for her, and she bore Samuel.
In the same way, people come to the priest, asking his blessing and prayers for their problems and illnesses. Students ask for his prayers and blessing before their exams.
They even seek the blessing of anything that belongs to him—
the blessing of the cross, or a picture, or a pen he used, or his signature on a book or photo, or even the hem of his garment.
The priest blesses the people in many ways:
by making the sign of the Cross, by sprinkling blessed water, by anointing with oil, by words of blessing, or by laying his hand on their heads. He blesses them in the liturgy with the words “Eirene pasi” (“Peace be with you all”).
He blesses their homes by visiting and praying there, or by offering incense. He blesses their food through prayer and the sign of the Cross, and he blesses their work, their projects, and their children.
A priest blesses his fellow priest and also receives blessing from him. Before beginning any liturgical prayer, he asks for his brother’s blessing.
People also receive blessing through their obedience to the priest.
As the saying goes, “The obedient child receives blessing, but the disobedient one comes to ruin.”
Jacob and Esau both sought their father Isaac’s blessing with all their might.
Joseph the Righteous also sought the blessing of his father Jacob for his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. And according to how Jacob placed his hands upon them, each received blessing as he spoke.
The phrase “Bless me, my father,” is very well known in the writings of the monastic fathers.
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