The 4th Advent Sunday: Hebrew10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45
Podcast Message: Blessed!
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Hello, This is Jade.
Welcome to Yi.kigai
A space for all to explore the intersection between faith and daily life
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Happy Advent. It is the 4th Sunday of Advent.
It is my prayer that you all have felt as blessed as I have to hear the passage last week from Zephaniah 3:17 that God is in our midst, rejoices over all believers with gladness, and renews them in His love.
I still remember feeling caught off guard when my ESL teacher said to me, “Bless you!” after I sneezed in class; that was during the first month after I arrived as an international student. When people sneeze in my culture, we either stare at that person or ask if he or she is all right. There is no ‘blessing’ involved. It took me several months to better understand the people, the cultures, and the English usage in this country.
“Bless you!” is a fascinating expression for me. We hear it everywhere, at school, on streets, on buses, in restaurants, at shopping malls, or even in any public restroom. It can be said to anyone from loved ones to strangers. No one would feel awkward at all if there is no eye contact made, or if we can’t tell or identify who said it. “Bless you” is offered without any attachment and is received freely.
The words 'bless-blessed-blessing '' have their own unique usages in both the Old Testament and New Testament cultures by the people of faith at that time. The word “bless” in biblical Hebrew is “barak”, which means: kneel down, bless, salute, and congratulate; the word “bless” in biblical Greek is “eulogeo” or “makarizo”, which mean: well spoken of and praise. When used in the biblical contexts, it is sacred with intentionality. God’s attention and God’s favor are recognized and received through an established relationship by both parties.
In Luke 1:39-45, Elizabeth said to Mary, “Blessed are you among women; blessed is the fruit of your womb; blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” Who is present in these short passages? Elizabeth, Mary, and God. Both are the people of God and the people of faith. Both believe that blessing is not a short moment or event but a lasting lifelong gift from God. By uttering this word and receiving it, God is invited into their midst.
God is the one performing the act of blessing, protecting and favoring those who believe in Him. The people of faith are the vessels that are filled with God’s blessings not to keep or to hide but to share through uttering and announcing it. By doing so, we allow God’s presence and blessings to saturate our lives together. God’s blessings will never run short as the Psalmist says in 23:5, “My Cup overflows with your blessings.”
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May your coming week be blessed by God’s grace
As together we explore the intersection between faith and daily life
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