I have just returned from a trip to Israel. We visited the Mount of the Beatitudes, where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount (“Blessed are the poor …”), and the theme of blessing echoed from there throughout the journey.

I have been drawn to blessing prayers for several years, especially after reading Barbara Brown Taylor's "The Practice of Pronouncing Blessings" in her lovely book An Altar in the World.  Then a few weeks ago the Christian Healing Mission blog (healingmission.org) focused on Aaron's blessing in Numbers 6:24-26, and it opened my eyes to the power of that particular blessing. During the Israel trip, I had on my Kindle Russ Parker's book Rediscovering the Ministry of Blessing.

These three literary sources seemed to coalesce at the mountaintop of blessing. What flowed out from there was this re-interpretation of Aaron's blessing, based on some ancient Hebrew meanings and word roots.

The Lord kneel in honor before you
and watch over you;
the Lord make his presence shine all around you,
and give you all the good you can receive;
the Lord raise up his life within you,
and make you well.

According to the author of Luke-Acts, Jesus ascended to heaven while he was still blessing his disciples (Luke 24:51), and Jesus will return in the same way that he left (Acts 1:11). One interpretation of this is that Jesus will return blessing us, and that even now his work of blessing, uninterrupted by his ascension, continues in the heavenly realm.

You and I can join in Jesus’ ongoing ministry of blessing. He returns to us in the blessings we share, filling each word with his life.

Practice speaking these words into the lives of your family members and friends (and yes, your enemies too). Then watch to see what happens. You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and your words will have their effect.