The Lord Bless You And Keep You

Today is Pentecost Sunday. Churches throughout the world will be remembering the coming of the Holy Spirit. There’s wind, fire and other languages. God comes with power, disciples are transformed and many hear the good news of Jesus. God’s dramatic presence brings much excitement and activity

The Spirit is also gentle. Elsewhere He’s described as a dove. On the radio yesterday I heard John Rutter’s arrangement of Aaron’s blessing.

The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face to shine upon you
To shine upon you and be gracious
And be gracious unto you.
The Lord bless you and keep you,
The Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon you
And give you peace, and give you peace. Amen.

It’s a prayer for God’s blessing, God’s presence… We are asking God to come, to be present by his Spirit… to bless you and protect you

Often my prayers can be selfish – what I want, what I think ought to be done. Here my thoughts focus on ‘The Lord’ and ‘you’. My self-centred prayers are replaced by my prayers for ‘you’, that God will bless you.

I don’t list your needs and problems. I don’t explain to God what I think he ought to do for you. There’s no great explanation or story. I just pray that God will smile on you and be gracious to you.

St Paul reminds us that through the Spirit, the Spirit of Pentecost, we receive God’s love, joy, peace… Just as Jesus reminds us to love God, love our neighbour love ourselves, so too we can have peace with God, peace with our neighbour and peace with ourselves.

And through this blessing I pray that God will bring this peace to your body, mind and spirit… peace in the ordinary day things of life… in your families, at work, with your health, finances or relationships…

….May the Lord show you His favour and give you His peace.