“The Lord Bless You…And Give You Peace!”

“The Lord Bless You…And Give You Peace!”
(In western Christianity the first Sunday after Pentecost as it is today is celebrated as Sunday of the Holy Trinity).
The regularly used benediction to dismiss worshippers in most protestant gatherings is the Aaronic benediction. God told Moses to tell Aaron and his sons, “This is how you are to bless the Israelites:
‘The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward toward you and give you peace.'”
He said when his name is put on the people this way, he will bless them(Num.6:22-27).
When the Lord blesses you, he keeps you as well. We keep only things we cherish. God does much more than we do. For the Lord to make his face shine upon us is a sign of acceptance and favour. This explains why he is gracious when his face shines on us.
When the Lord turns his face towards us, he gives us peace. The Hebrew word for peace is “Shalom.” Shalom as used here in its most expressive fullness is not the absence of war, but a positive state of rightness and well-being. Such peace can come only from the Lord.
Jesus reveals the depths of such heavenly peace when he said, “Peace I leave with you: my peace I give you, I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”(Jn.14:27).
The peace that comes to us through the redeeming work of Christ is total well-being and inner rest of spirit, in fellowship with God.
True peace is a gift of God. It is nothing like the peace of the ordinary “shalom” greetings of human beings. Most times humans offer a handshake of peace as the only means through which they can transmit poison on you! Such peace is offered with a smile but having a well laid out plan of war in the heart.
The peace of God transcends human understanding. To taste of such peace Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” This is a secret which God had hidden from the wise and learned, but has revealed them to children(Jn.11:25-30).
Yes, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ and keeps blessing us through the Holy Spirit. Such is the working of the Holy Trinity in our lives.
Sunday prayer: Lord may your blessing and and all its complements be my portion today and always. Amen!
Have a blessed Sunday of the Holy Trinity! Peace be with you!