God's Blessing (2nd Sunday Lent A)

(grabbed from filipinofunfacts.wordpress.com)

One distinctly Filipino cultural practice that is really close to my heart is the “Mano po” tradition. The gesture is performed as a sign of respect to elders and as a way of asking the elders’ blessing. Similar to hand-kissing, the person asking the blessing bows towards the offered hand of the elder and presses his or her forehead on the hand as the elder gives his blessing by saying, “God bless you.” I have enjoyed doing this as a child and still does to my superiors. As a priest, one of my little joys is when children run to me, often after mass, to get my hand that they may have my blessing. It makes me deeply happy to bless each of them, to wish them, as they grow, a life filled with the grace of God and away from the curse of sin.

I hope every Filipino family continues to practice this beautiful tradition. This allows us to participate in God’s desire to bless all of his children. Today’s readings reveal to us the heart of God who only wants to bless all of us; the readings too offer us the opportunity to see God’s blessing both as a gift and a task. How do we attain the blessing of God? Can we be a blessing to others?

God’s blessing as a gift. The blessing of God is freely offered to us. In the history of this fallen world, we have known only of sin and its curse. But God cannot allow us to remain in the darkness and slavery of sin. He has reached out to us starting with the covenant with his chosen people, Israel, from whom the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, will come.

Hence, the first reading (Gn 12:1-4a) recounts the call of Abraham, the beginning of God’s covenant. In this reading, God commands Abraham to leave his homeland and go where the Lord leads him. God explains his plan:  "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you... All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you."

In the second reading (2 Tm 1: 8b-10), we have the fulfillment of the blessing promised to Abraham.  St. Paul recognizes the great blessing of salvation and the vocation to holiness as a favor given to us through Christ. This favor is pure gift. St. Paul explains that it is not by our works that we merited God’s blessing of new life.  God offered it as a gift. Christ obtained it for us.

Gratitude, then, must be our constant disposition as we live out the blessing of new life in Christ. Am I grateful for my blessings--meaningful life, abundance, fulfillment and happiness, wisdom, maturity, loving relationships, family?

God’s blessing as a task.  While the blessing of God is a gift, freely offered to us and obtained for us by Christ, today’s readings remind us that it is also a task.  First, this means a blessed life is a journey marked by obedience to the commands of God.  We are assured of the gift of God’s blessing when we follow God’s commands because his commandments are the pathways to blessedness.  Disobedience has led humanity to the slavery of sin and the insecurity of death; only the love of God can take away the curse of sin. Abraham was blessed and his descendants through him because he trusted and obeyed God’s command for him to set off to a land which God would show him. Jesus Christ won for all of humanity and creation the ultimate blessing of salvation and life because he has undone Adam’s disobedience by his own obedience to the Father even to the cross and unto death.

In today’s gospel reading (Mt 17: 1-9), Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John.  In this vision, the voice of the Father is heard saying: “This is my beloved Son, on whom my favor rests; listen to him.” Jesus, the beloved Son, is our way to a truly blessed life; hence, the Father reminds us to listen to him.

Our generation needs this reminder. We have turned into an arrogant people who listen only to our own whims and caprices. We don’t want to obey. We assert what we want.  We need to realize that this arrogance is leading us to destruction. We need to rediscover our trust in God’s commandments which lead us to a blessed life. We need to be reminded to listen to Jesus.

Becoming a blessing to others. The second meaning of God’s blessing being a task is the invitation to become God’s instrument of blessing to others.  Not only did Abraham receive the blessing of God, he was designated to be a blessing to “all the communities of the earth.”  Jesus is identified as the favored Son of God that He may bring salvation to all.

We cannot have the gift of God’s blessing and be selfish.  When we are blessed, we are invited, too, to share the blessing to others. To be a blessing to others can be demanding. This can mean moving out of our comfort zones as Abraham left behind his homeland to a yet unknown destination set by God. This can mean self-denial and self-giving like what Jesus had done for us. This can mean what St. Paul has written to Timothy to “bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God” (2 Tm 1: 8). We can be a blessing to others as we selflessly do the works of mercy.

The Filipino practice of pagmamano is beautiful because it invites the parents and elders to participate in God’s desire to bless his children.  We can all impart blessing to one another. We can be a blessing to others.

Lent is a season of blessing. Let us heed these three invitations as we continue our journey into this grace-filled season: Be grateful for God’s blessing; seek always the will of God by listening to Jesus in humble obedience; be a blessing to others by your self-denial and self-giving. God bless us all!