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5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord,
who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
it will become a place of refreshing springs.
The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
7 They will continue to grow stronger,
and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.
*Psalm 84.5-7, NLT
* * *
Mr. Jones dies and goes to heaven? When he arrives, St Peter is waiting at the Pearly Gates. He takes Mr. Jones on a tour of heaven. Mr Jones is awestruck. The streets are gold, beautiful mansions glisten in sunshine, and choirs of angels sing the most beautiful songs.
Partway through his tour of heaven, Mr Jones’ eye is drawn to an odd looking building, a huge, windowless warehouse with just one door. "You don’t really want to see what’s in there" observes St. Peter.
"But I do, I do!" exclaims Mr Jones. He runs across the lawn. He opens the door to discover rows upon rows of shelves, floor to ceiling. Stacked on the shelves are thousands of white boxes, each with a name on it.
"Is there one with my name on it?" asks Mr Jones, while he rushes to the J aisle. He finds the box with his name and opens it. His mouth drops, his pulse races, and he says to Peter, "What are all these wonderful things inside my box? Are they the good things in store for me now that I’ve reached heaven?"
"No" replies St Peter. "They’re all the blessings God wanted to give you on earth, but which you never received."
Mr. Jones looked sad. "Why?" he asked St Peter. "Why did I miss out on all these blessings?"
Well, that’s a long story" replied St Peter.
* * *
Paul speaks of the abundant blessings we enjoy in union with Christ.
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
*Ephesians 1.3, NLT
First, the passage speaks of the result of being a blessed person: an attitude and expression of praise. Being blessed gives spiritual insight into Grace, the source of all the good, true, and beautiful.
Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing.
*James 1.17, CEV
Second, Paul identifies the blessings leading to praise: every spiritual blessing ... in heavenly realms. The extent is "every"; the nature is "spiritual." A blessed person or church thanks and praises because of spiritual graces given; the focus is not on material blessings, even though the latter is important also.
Spiritual blessings relate to higher consciousness, higher-order needs, and sacred mysteries: "heavenly realms." The Church's sacraments and rites are signs of this realm of fertile mystery. Every creature is an icon of Divine fullness overflowing into all creatures.
Third, Scripture gives us the spiritual relationship that serves as means of the blessing: we are united with Christ, or, in Christ. In Christ is the mystical way Paul refers to union, or oneness, with the resurrected Jesus Christ. Paul does not define "in Christ." He leaves it a relational mystery we enjoy but fail to understand.
We certainly need a shift in many of our churches and among many of us Christians from focusing on material blessings of the earth realm. The shift is in a more spiritual direction, where we accent blessings in "the heavenly places" (AV). This is not to say we are not to trust God for material blessings. Yet, material blessings are subordinate to reception of spiritual graces.
Spiritual blessing is blessing flowing from the Holy Spirit's dynamic graciousness. Divine graciousness is not alone an attitude. For grace is God expressing God, not just an aspect of God. The greatest blessing is God giving God to you.
This means being blessed is a relationship-in-process. "In Christ" is one way of signifying mystical union of spirit and Spirit. In union in, or with, Christ is realized oneness with the Trinity, in real contact, the Spirit being the expression within the soul of the Eternal Wisdom.
In the words of the Church Father, Cyril of Jerusalem 315-386):
Since you have partaken in Christ, you are rightly called "christs,"
that is, anointed ones.
* * *
1) What is the difference between material blessings and spiritual blessings?
2) Name one spiritual blessing you enjoy? Is there one spiritual blessing you are not enjoying but want to? ... enjoying but want more of?
3) How do sacraments and rites signify and mediate spiritual blessings?
4) How might Psalm 84.5-7 be interpreted as an inner experience within you? The experience of the Church in communal worship?
5) What is the meaning of your being a christ in Christ?
* * *
*The opening story is adapted from Bruce Wilkerson. The Prayer of Jabez; see www.ozsermonillustrations.com , "Blessing." The quote of Cyril of Jersualem is in the translation in Scott Hahn, Mike Aquilina. Living the Mysteries.
*Charitable contributions would be appreciated to assist Brian in the continuance of his work of ministry. For contributions, contact Brian at barukhattah@embarqmail.com .
*Brian's book of spiritual love poetry, An Ache for Union: Oneness with God through Love, can be ordered through major booksellers, or through the Cokesbury on-line store, at www.cokesbury.com .
*Brian K. Wilcox lives in Punta Gorda, FL, and Clearwater, FL, with his wife, step-son, and two beloved dogs. Brian has an independent writing, workshop, and retreat ministry focused on Christians living as spiritual disciples of Jesus Christ in everyday life. He serves the Christ Community United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda, FL. Brian is vowed at Greenbough House of Prayer, a contemplative Christian community in South Georgia. He lives a vowed, contemplative life and inspires others to experience a more intimate relationship with God-in-Christ. Brian advocates for a spiritually-focused, experiential Christianity and renewal of the focus of the Church on addressing the deeper spiritual needs and longings of persons.
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