A reflection on Genesis 32: 23-33 by Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB
In this passage from Genesis we see Jacob battling, wrestling with an Angel. We read in Genesis, “After he had taken them across the stream and had brought over all his possessions, Jacob was left there alone.”
There he was – alone. Everything he had was on the other side. The full story is that Jacob was returning home and was afraid of his brother, Esau. He wasn’t sure if he was going to be killed! He had sent thousands of gifts to Esau just to appease him. So we don’t know everything that was happening or all that was said or felt, but Jacob understood that “the man” was something divine.
After they had been wrestling for some time, the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But what does Jacob say? “I will not let you go until you bless me.” He knew the power of a blessing. He wasn’t going to let it go until he got it. He suffered for it, too. He was knocked in the hip and had to walk with a limp; but he was willing to fight that hard to get it.
I don’t know if, today, we take seriously the blessing that we get from God. Or that we understand how powerful it is when we get the priest’s blessing. When we get our parents blessing. When we bless one another. To know what that means! To believe in the power of a blessing – do we take it in strongly enough that it can bear fruit? Do we ask God to bless us? Jacob knew the power and he wasn’t going to let it go. He tangled with Heaven and won. “I will not let you go until you bless me.”
Ask God for His blessing. Take seriously the blessings we get. Let them bear fruit within and give blessings! Bless one another with a prayer, ask for a blessing and see how it bears fruit.