Bible
Study: Isaiah 56, 1 to 8 and John 5, 33 to 36.
From what
our readings present to us today, we can safely conclude that there is nothing
God respects as much as the words of blessing of a father over his children.
Whatever a father says over his sons or daughters, it MUST surely come to pass.
If they are words of blessing, then happy would be the future of that child or
children but if they are words of curses, then it would be better for that
child not to live to experience them.
At times,
the blessing a father gives over his children does not follow the order of
their birth, meaning that being a first son or first child does not
automatically translate to being the greatest among children. When we look at
the whole family history from Abraham, we see that the first borns were not so
favoured. Ishmeal came before Isaac but the promise was for Isaac. Isaac gave
birth to twins but Jacob being the younger son received a greater blessing
because his elder brother Esau sold his birthright to him without realising the
implication.
Now Jacob
had twelve sons but the most blessed of all of them was Judah who was neither
the first, second nor third. Judah was the fourth but as our first reading
today recants, he was most blessed. His blessing even included a line saying
his brothers (including the ones senior to him) would bow and sing his praises.
Jacob’s prophetic blessing came to pass in our Gospel passage this morning. The
genealogy shows one striking detail, Jesus Christ is a direct descendant of the
line of Judah.
In fact,
blessing can be so powerful that even if they are not fulfilled in one’s own
lifetime, they remain with the person’s generation forever. Destiny may be a
matter of chance and it can change. But blessing follows a person like a
shadow. I rather be blessed than allow fate or destiny to determine what
becomes of my future. Blessing is a non-negotiable. If you are blessed, you are
successful. It may not be immediate but blessing never expires.
In all of
these, one can see that there is need on our part as parents to impart
blessings into the life of our children. Do not use nasty words on your
children no matter how bad they hurt your feelings by their childish ways. Keep
blessing them, keep calling them good names and I bet you no matter how wayward
they may be, your blessings would change their final story.
Let us
Pray: Lord Jesus, may my generation be blessed forever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith.
It is well with you. God bless you. Happy Weekend
Fr. Abu.
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