There is a benediction-blessing floating around the Internet
these days that is worthy of a discussion.
It appears in many forms, brief and expanded. It is rarely documented, and fairly obscure
to the protestant mind. Nevertheless, it
is a blessing worthy to pray. The origin
of this Franciscan Blessing is not known. It's not a typical blessing we
might expect to hear, but it's a good one.
May God bless you with discomfort...at easy answers, hard hearts, half-truths , and superficial relationships.
May God bless you so that you may live from deep within your heart where God's Spirit dwells.
May God bless you with anger...at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people.
May God bless you so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears... to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war.
May God bless you so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishnessto believe that you can make a difference in this world, in your neighborhood, so that you will courageously try what you don't think you can do, but, in Jesus Christ you'll have all the strength necessary.
May God bless you to fearlessly speak out about injustice, unjust laws, corrupt politicians, unjust and cruel treatment of prisoners, and senseless wars,genocides, starvations, and poverty that is so pervasive.
May God bless you that you remember we are all called to continue God's redemptive workof love and healing in God's place, in and through God's name, in God's Spirit, continually creatingand breathing new life and grace into everything and everyone we touch.
Source: "Troubadour: A Missionary Magazine," published by the Franciscan Missionary Society, Liverpool, UK: Spring 2005.
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