Blessed to Bless

Letter From the Pastor

Genesis 12:2 — “I will bless you… so that you will be a blessing.”

Blessed to Bless

Summary: God blesses us not for our own gain, but so that we can be a blessing to others and help heal the world.

What if God said to you, “I will make you successful—famous, wealthy, and admired—but there’s one condition: you must use it to care for others. You must create jobs, provide medical care, ensure housing, offer food and water, and help others thrive”?

This is essentially what God says to Abraham in Genesis 12. God promises to bless him—not for his own glory, but so that he will be a blessing to the world. God calls Abraham to leave his home and trust Him, and in return, God will make his descendants a great nation. But the purpose is clear: Abraham is blessed to bless.

This moment comes right after the stories of the flood and the Tower of Babel—as God begins reshaping the world. And this is where God establishes a new pattern: a “blessing culture,” where gifts are not to be hoarded, but shared.

Abraham is the father of our faith, which means this calling is also ours. As people of God, we are not called to receive blessings and keep them—we are called to pass them on. To heal. To give. To restore.

This is God’s vision for the world: a community shaped by generosity and compassion. It’s not just a story from the past. It’s our story too.

So may you be blessed—not for your sake alone, but so that you can bless others.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Anny+

 The Rev. Dr. Anny Genato+

Rector

St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church