Last night, I met Grace Caroline Janzen for the first time. She was born a few weeks ago on May 28 to Evie and Jacob Janzen of our church family. This is one of my most favorite moments to experience as your pastor. When Chantelle and I arrived, we caught up a bit with the parents and then immediately went to wash our hands so we could hold (with permission) one of God’s newest arrivals to our little blue planet.
I sat in a comfy rocker and Jacob placed Grace in my arms. I always wanted to have a baby daughter to love and to hold, and here was my chance. Her entire body lay between my left wrist and my left elbow and might have weighed less than some sandwiches I’ve eaten. Her body relaxed and her breathing slowed with a sigh at the warmth of our bond. As she began to fall asleep, I prayed an ancient blessing from our scriptures over her from Numbers 6:24-26:
“You shall say to them,
the LORD bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you;
the LORD lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.”
Mom and Dad slipped into the kitchen to eat some delicious warm dinner that some loving neighbors had prepared while Grace and Chantelle and I sat in silence, wonder, and awe of God’s goodness and sacred space and time. This blessing, whose wording dates back thousands and thousands of years, was undoubtedly used in the Jerusalem temple, usually at the conclusion of a service of worship. When the priest says, “make his face to shine upon you,” it means may God’s presence graciously turn toward the people in concern and favor (Psalm 31:16; 80:3). The expression “lift up his countenance” also signifies divine favor (Psalm 4:6, 44:3, 89:15).
The final line of the blessing is “and give you peace.” In our sacred scriptures, peace is more than simply feeling good. Peace in the Bible means total well-being and welfare, both material and spiritual. This is God’s shalom, where nothing is missing and nothing is broken. When faith communities share the peace and say “God’s peace be with you,” this is what we mean.
So, the next time you hear the priestly blessing at the close of youth group, at the end of a worship service, or in a song on the radio, remember that God is for you and that God is always working for your good, even if you aren’t quite old enough to realize it yet.
I hope you will pray for Grace, Evie, and Jacob today when you read this, and remember, God is for you, too!
