Figuracion
Each time I end my Sunday mass in my parish, children ran and flock around me to make ‘mano.’ They take turns to put my hands on their foreheads praying to be blessed.
In turn, I pray with them saying: “God bless you!” That captures one of the roles of the priest: to bless and to pray.
When I give holy communion to the faithful, I also make it a habit to bless babies on the arms of a parent or younger children who tow along by putting a cross on their foreheads.
I bless the adults, too especially couples on their wedding day.
Since marriage is such a wonderful but difficult vocation requiring a lifetime of love and self-giving, I ask God’s blessings for the couples’ faithfulness and constancy.
Families ask me to bless their vehicles and their homes.
After blessing the vehicles, I remind the owners of God’s protection whenever they use it to keep them from dangers, accidents and harm.
In blessing the homes, I ask God’s gift of peace and love to the family as they give space for Christ in their lives.
In visiting the sick, I lay my hands on them imploring God’s healing.
Some of them they get well and return to their usual task.
Others continue to suffer the pain of their sickness but they have learned to accept it with love and resignation.
Unfortunately, there are those who die. I have blest countless individuals in their funeral rites praying for a hopeful transition from their earthly to their heavenly homeland. I have even accompanied my dad in his final moment and whispered love and forgiveness into his soul.
I truly thank God for such a great gift to be able to bless and to pray.
Looking back on the day of my ordination, I recall how Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal anointed my hands with the words: “The Father anointed our Lord Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. May Jesus preserve you to sanctify the Christian people and to offer sacrifice to God.”
Jesus sent his disciples to go around and do good. They were sent as missionaries to spread God’s goodness and mercy. They were to reach out to others and show the world that the kingdom of God is here.
In my ministry as a priest, I am continually challenged to be like Jesus in today’s world. He sent me to bless, to forgive, to give light, to give joy and be a channel of peace.
As disciples of Jesus, we are all invited to be a source of blessing to everyone.
More so when we experience being insulted, slandered or persecuted. The Christian always returns a blessing convinced as Pope Francis that “a little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.”