The first of the firsts

The first First Reading of the new year is the famous blessing of Aaron

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
The LORD make his face shine upon thee,

and be gracious unto thee:
The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee,

and give thee peace.

Benedicat tibi Dominus et custodiat te!
Illuminet Dominus faciem suam super te

et misereatur tui!
Convertat Dominus vultum suum ad te

et det tibi pacem!

The words are so familiar - rattled off so often in churches and synagogues and plastered on so many posters with soft sunrises and placid waters - that they can lose their emotional impact.

It might help to consider that “making one’s face shine” is a Hebrew idiom for smiling, thus:

The LORD smile upon you.

May all of us feel the Lord smiling upon us and may we always live for the smiles of God.