Transcript of the Video Above

Daily reflections for Lenten Easter, written by Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser, OMI.

If I want to really bless someone, I must in some way give my life to that person so as to enable him or her to have more life.

We see this aspect of blessing powerfully portrayed in Victor Hugo’s classic novel Les Miserables.

At one point in that story, Jean Valjean, who is by then an old man, goes in search of Marius, the young man who is in love with his adopted daughter. Initially, his motivation for searching out Marius is mixed. He is understandably threatened by this young man who will take his daughter away from him.

He finds Marius with a group of idealistic young revolutionaries who, while trying to help the poor, have put themselves into a position where they are all about to be killed in a brutal attack from government forces. Their position is hopeless.

It is in this situation that Jean Valjean finds young Marius asleep. He bends over him, invokes, God, God on high, hear my prayer. Then, turning to young Marius, he repeats several times, look on this boy. He is young. He is afraid tomorrow he might die. But, Lord, let him live. Let me die. Let him live. Let him live.

Those last lines are the prototype of deep blessing. A deep blessing is not simply an affirmation. You’re a fine young man. You’re a gifted young woman, good and life giving, as these words are, they’re not enough.

To bless someone deeply is to die for them in some real way, to give up some part of your life for them.