"I will bless you… and you shall be a blessing"

"I will bless you… and you will be a blessing" (Genesis 12:2)

With Abraham, a new chapter begins in the history of the Bible. It is God who takes the initiative, who calls, who opens up a future where, as yet, there appears to be no clearly defined path

God’s promise is manifested in two profound dimensions

Firstly: I will bless you. God bestows upon Abraham a look of favour and a look of life. In the Bible, a blessing is more than just a wish; it is a power that nurtures, bears fruit and drives one to action.

Then comes the second, astonishing dimension: ‘and you shall be a blessing’. Abraham does not receive for himself alone. His life is called to become a passage, a bridge, and a source for others

The blessing that is received becomes a blessing that is given. Thus a profound spiritual principle emerges: whatever comes from God is meant to flow. The promise does not stop with those who receive it; rather, it expands, radiates outwards, and reaches ‘all the tribes of the earth’.

Before we think of ourselves, let us contemplate the face of our God: a God who chooses to bless, who blesses in order to give life, and who makes an ordinary person the starting point of a history of salvation; and in the course of this history, we too are included

For our part, we receive God’s blessing in his Word, in the sacraments, and in fellowship. And we, too, are sent forth so that this life may flow out to others

To be a source of blessing is to allow God to complete His work in us, so that others may find light and hope

Let us always remember: May God bless us and make our lives a new beginning… may He make them a blessing