tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post4073862430019112465..comments2024-03-17T22:48:00.427+08:00Comments on Reflections and Ruminations: Getting things blessed without being present for the blessing? Not a good idea.Fr Luke Fonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03079016104331055895noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-73546967738861984892015-03-30T14:47:09.333+08:002015-03-30T14:47:09.333+08:00As I went to collect the palms before palm Sunday ...As I went to collect the palms before palm Sunday mass yesterday evening, one of the hospitality ministers beckoned me to help myself to the washed palms....In passing he said to me ....'all the palms have already been blessed. ..' I could not but at that moment remember your post about blessed sacramentals and blessings. Haha. Put a smile on my face before mass. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18397800144658188658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-42656633839585737832015-03-27T15:25:01.609+08:002015-03-27T15:25:01.609+08:00 “.............we have in our church’s beautiful t... “.............we have in our church’s beautiful traditions many blessings that serve to remind us of God’s constant care for us,............................”<br /><br /><br />Sometimes, immediately after mass, we have parishioners who make a bee-line for the priest and insist that he gives them a blessing because they are going for a medical check-up, an important test, a minor op for one thing or another................even after the numerous reminders from the pulpit - that one has been more than doubly (trebly?) blessed, once one has participated in the mass. However, most priests would obliged. Just to show how ‘hung up’ we are with receiving blessings ! <br /><br /><br />The giving and receiving of blessings is one of the beautiful traditions of our Catholic church for ( like you said) it does remind us of God’s constant care and love. For example these Lenten days, before sending us forth at the end of mass, the priest would ask us to bow for a blessing. Somehow, I feel this to be very comforting. Perhaps it answers a deep, inchoate need or hunger in us to be re-assured and affirmed that we have the Father’s favour and being blessed makes us able to be a blessing to the people we meet.<br /><br /><br />For in Genesis 12:1-20 – God told Abraham – “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you.............” Thus in receiving blessings, there is a need for us to pass it on. Reflecting on this, I feel - it is in teaching with Christian spirituality - that we receive by giving. Our blessings should be used to bless others for God will take care of our needs and so in giving away, we actually attain.<br /><br /><br />So it is with much delight whenever I read the Aaronic blessing, for– God says that He will let his face shine on you..............if his face shines on you.......how radiant would yours be!<br />Can one imagine how magnificent it is to be able to share and radiate God’s glory, then ?<br /><br /><br />God bless u,Fr<br /><br />tessa<br />Tessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04211998984286520369noreply@blogger.com