Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro appeared on Late Night with Stephen Colbert to discuss a wide variety of topics including the April 13 arson attack on his home residence, the Governor's Mansion in Harrisburg, in which he and his family were targeted. Fortunately, Shapiro, his wife and their four children escaped the flames unharmed and the arsonist remains in custody.
In the touching exchange between Shapiro, the third Jewish governor of Pennsylvania, and Colbert, a Catholic, Shapiro shared how important and powerful the prayers of many were in the days and weeks that followed the traumatic attack that left the Governor's Mansion with extensive damage.
The crime was particularly insidious because it came hours after Shapiro had celebrated a Passover Seder dinner with friends and family.
"I felt all of your prayers," Shapiro told Colbert. "They gave me strength. I'm convinced that prayer is universal."
Shapiro went on to describe a beautiful scene in which he and his family hosted a dinner in order to thank the firefighters for their heroism.
After the meal, an 82-year-old fire chaplain presented him with a written prayer, and that moment is one that's still sending shivers. The prayer given to Shapiro by the elderly firefighter is the same Priestly Blessing that Shapiro has said for years over his children every night.
It comes from the Old Testament Book of Numbers:
The Priestly Blessing (Numbers 6:24-27)
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you
and give you peace.”’
Blessings, and particularly the special blessings parents can give children, are rooted in Scripture. This is thus a shared practice for Jews and Catholics. Read more on blessing your children here.
And on blessings in general here.
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Also see Stephen Colbert's recent reflection on the deep and surprising connection between faith and humor below:
