The Benediction

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you  (I Thess 5:28)

That's Paul's benediction or blessing; it's also one of the phrases in our trinitarian benediction we use most Sundays:  "And now may the Love of God, and the grace of our Lord Jesus, and the presence of the Holy Spirit be with you, now and forever."

Three things:

1.  They're not empty words, but convey the most important thing anyone can know:  God's love, Jesus' saving grace, and the Holy Spirit's abiding presence - all with us.  Wow!

2.  They are a blessing, and you and I are blessed "to be a blessing to others."  God's intent is that the Divine love, grace and presence overflow our lives onto the lives of others.

3.  It's Trinitarian, which is a uniquely Christian perspective among the monotheistic religions of the world.

God bless, Dan