Encouragement

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“I will walk in His love.” Psalm 128:1

We all like to leave people with a parting message which could be a kind word, a loving line, a reassuring promise of return, a poignant farewell message or most commonly a blessing. We have all heard this beautiful parting line; “May the Good Lord bless and keep you until we meet again.” Of course, a farewell is necessary before one can meet again.

In one of the great classic movies of our time - ‘Ben Hur’ there is a very heart rending message at the end of the movie where Ben Hur marvels at how Jesus forgave in spite of being nailed to the cross and Esther exclaims; “Even then”. These two words carry the whole volume of forgiveness in them.
How many of us would follow suit and tell ourselves that even when we face storms at every turn, even then we will not give up faith. Even when we are hurt, even then we will reconcile. Even when we are hoping against hope, even then we will be resolute in our belief. Even when we are overshadowed with doubts and grief, even then we will look towards the horizon of peace and joy. Even when the waiting is long, even then we will wait with joyful expectancy.

There is a famous quote which reads, “I believe in the sun even when it is not shining; I believe in love even when I feel it not; I believe in God even when He is silent.”
Perhaps, right now, God is silent in your life while you are braving the storm. But He is very much there; steering the ship. If we can entrust ourselves into His hands even when we fail to comprehend, then we can guarantee that we will make it somehow and reach the shore safely.

If we look back at some of the parting messages given by the great prophets in the Old Testament, we will see that they all imparted a blessing on their successor when it was time to leave the world. It was the customary practice to do so.
Abraham blessed his son Isaac who in turn was tricked into blessing his younger son Jacob instead of the elder son Esau as was the general norm. Jacob blessed Joseph in Egypt and handed over the mantle to him.
Moses blessed Joshua as he was about to enter the promised land and handed over his staff to him to carry on from Mount Nebo along with the Israelites and lead the people. Samuel inspired by the Holy Spirit anointed Jesse’s youngest son David to be the king of the Israelites instead of the oldest son.

In the new testament, the prophet Simeon blessed Jesus when He was presented in the temple and his prophecy of the suffering that awaited Jesus was his parting line to Mary. We can also single out some outstanding parting shots given by Jesus in various instances. When the rich man found it difficult to part with his wealth and follow the Lord; Jesus exclaimed in Matthew 19:24; “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Similarly, when someone asked Jesus how many times should they forgive, the Lord replied, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” When He rebuked the people for their lack of faith, He strongly told them; “The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.” Luke 11:32. Perhaps this line is a message for the present generation as well.
Finally, Jesus anointed the apostles on His farewell from earth and asked them to make disciples of all nations blessing people in the Holy Trinity. This was the final parting message.

Later, St. Paul in the acts of the apostles concluded each prayer with a blessing and final greeting which is still being followed at every mass till date. God himself is blessing us at every Eucharist so that we can remain in His love until we encounter Him at the end of Time.

Jesus said in John 15:4; “Remain in me as I remain in you.” If we stay in His ways, cherish His parting promise and live His message of love we can look forward to a beautiful reunion with our Lord when He comes again.

May our prayer be, “Lord, do not be long in coming.”


Maria Franco
 

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