Question

What does it mean for humans to bless God?

David Arnow Jewish

Jewish blessings affirm that God is blessed. Our benedictions address God directly—“Blessed are You . . .” Who are we to so address God? Maybe the psalmist was right: “To You silence is praise . . .” (65:2). But sometimes when we behold the truly wondrous we can’t remain silent. We utter a word, maybe just an exclamation. Blessings highlight the extraordinary within the ordinary. At rare moments we feel overwhelmed by the bounty bestowed upon us. More often we take our good fortune for granted or assume that we deserve it. Blessings instruct us in gratitude; they point to the ultimate Source of All.

Related Texts

Upon seeing fruit trees in bloom in the spring (only recited once a year):
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, for nothing is lacking in His universe, and He created in it good creatures and good trees, to bring humanity pleasure with them.

Upon wearing a new garment of substantial value to the wearer:
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who clothes the naked.

Upon receiving especially bad news:
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, the true judge.

Mary C. Boys Christian

Blessing is a form of mindfulness, an acknowledgment of God’s presence in all of creation. It is a response to the holy “hiding” in the ordinary. Someone sneezes. “God bless you,” another responds. The desire to bless and be blessed lies deep within us. It is at once a response to the precariousness of our existence, and recognition of the Divine elusively present in our midst.

Christians inherited the tradition of blessing from biblical Israel, though with variant formulations. Jesus frames the values of God’s reign through a series of “blessed are” known as the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-11 and Luke 6:17, 20-23). For example, in Luke’s version, Jesus says, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.”

At the Last Supper, Jesus blesses bread and wine—a tradition Christians continue in the Eucharist.

Related Texts

Praised be You my Lord through our Sister, Mother Earth who sustains and governs us, producing varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs. Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon for love of You and bear sickness and trial.
— Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon, Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)

O God,
Make the door of this house wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship, narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and strife. Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling block to children, nor to straying feet, but rugged and strong enough to turn back the tempter’s power. God, make the door of this house the gateway to your eternal kingdom.
— Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers

Muhammad Shafiq Muslim

God is blessed. Al Quddus (Holy and Blessed) is one of His names. We invoke His blessed name to be blessed ourselves. Muslims worship and supplications begin and end by invoking different names of God. Muslims worship God five times a day. At the end of each worship we thank Him for His blessings. Muslims invoke God’s blessing when we eat or drink; sleep or wake up; drive or travel; enter home or leave home; enter or leave a place of worship; witness suffering, sickness or a calamity; witness health, beauty, light of the day, new moon, new season or any other activity. Friday is a Muslim’s thanksgiving day. The Qur’an speaks of God’s creating the heavens and earth in six days, just as the Bible does. Friday is the blessed day because God completed creation and trusted people to act as His vicegerents and custodians on earth. The Muslims are commanded to worship God in a congregation on Friday noon, celebrating and thanking Him for all the blessings bestowed on humanity.

Note: Translation of the Qur’anic verses and many of the Hadith translation with references were taken from Islamicity.com; some translations of and references to the Hadith were taken from ahadith.co.uk.

Related Texts

Upon witnessing the first fruit of the season:
O God! Bless us in abundance in our fruits, bless us in our towns, and bless us in our measures and weights.

Upon wearing a new garment:
All praise and blessing are to God who clothed me with which I cover my shame and through which I adorn myself in my life.

Upon facing major calamity, loss of life or suffering:
“Surely, we come from God and to Him we return. O God! From You alone I seek to be compensated for this affliction. Please compensate me and bless me with something better in return”.

— Allamah Muhammad Al-Jaziri, Al Hisnul Haseen, A Comprehensive Collection of Muslims Supplications, translated by Muhammad Rafeeq ibne Maulan Ahmad Hathurani, Delhi: Millat Book Center, 1999.

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