1 January 2023
The Octave Day of Christmas Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
Jewish priests, according to the sixth chapter of Numbers, are to bless the people using this formula: “The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!” Let’s take a closer look at this. The linguistic origins of the word “bless” will teach us something about its meaning.
In Hebrew, the original language of the Old Testament, the word for bless is ברך barak. Before this word meant bless, it originally meant kneel, that is, to kneel in worship. Thus, to kneel in worship before the true God alone is to be truly blessed.
In Greek and Latin, the original languages of Western Civilization, the words for bless are εὐλογέω eulogeo and benedicere. Before they meant bless, both words meant speak well of. Thus, to be spoken well of by the true God is to be truly blessed.
In English, the language of this blog, the root word for bless is bloedsian. Before it came to mean bless, it originally meant sign with blood, that is to say, to make something holy by consecrating it with blood. Thus, to be made holy by God’s blood to be truly blessed.
To make the 2023rd year of the incarnation of God’s Son a year of blessing do these three things: kneel in worship before God alone, hear God speak well of you in scripture, and be signed with the blood of the lamb of God.