St. Bruno in a discourse on the Psalms offered perspective on the nature of blessings. He wrote that even if we have faith, hope and love, no one can become blessed for eternity except through the grace of God. We can’t reach a state of blessedness without Christ’s intervention. That is nothing new to us – we know well we can‘t find eternal life without being blessed by God. He also wrote being blessed by the Lord means that we
can enjoy as much happiness as can be conceived. Clearly it is not possible to achieve that much happiness in this world. Perfect happiness, complete happiness, total happiness simply can't happen in a world where evil operates. In this life the decision to follow the Lord and to seek his grace is a daily one. We have to constantly renew our committment to live life in accordance with his will and not our own. To be blessed by God brings happiness and peace. Be blessed through the grace of God completely fills in our inner being yet it inspires to ask for more and to share the blessing we have been granted with others. Sharing does not diminsh the blessings we have been granted, it increases them.
From the ancient prayer from Numbers, bless us lord and keep us in your grace.
