Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me in Christ Jesus, 4and who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert* in Asia for Christ. 6Greet Mary, who has worked very hard among you. 7Greet Andronicus and Junia,* my relatives* who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. 8Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 16Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
I Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord.*
Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.*
Halloween is over and now we are in a season a priest friend used to call "Hallowthankmas." Since Halloween decorations are up from just after Labor Day until Halloween itself, then Thanksgiving decorations are there until Thanksgiving Day. Christmas trees and lights are in the stores during both seasons. Unfortunately for those of us who celebrate Christmas as a season twelve days long, Valentine hearts and cupids appear in the stores on Christmas Day. All the commercial seasons seem to run together, so Hallowthankmas seems to fit just fine.
With the upcoming Christmas season, there are cards to be bought, pictures to be taken for the covers or to be included in the ones we send to family and friends. Usually we enclose some kind of short message or letter, telling everyone what we have done over the year, how much the kids have grown, who's gone off to college, who's gotten married or produced our first, second or dozenth grandchild. We also send greetings to everyone and wishes for a happy holiday season.
Paul's letter to the Romans was the one epistle to a church he hadn't founded and where he wasn't personally known. One way to make points was to thank those who were familiar to the Romans, people who lived and served the Jesus Movement as Presiding Bishop Michael Curry refers to it. Among those mentioned were several women -- Prisca (Priscilla), Mary, and Junia, a woman who has has finally been allowed to have her own feminine name, rather than the Junius assigned to her by men who could not accept women as apostles. Paul didn't neglect the men, naming those who had traveled with him, were imprisoned with him, and who led the congregations. Even Paul's secretary, Tertius, and their hosts, Gaius, Erastus, and Quartus, sent greetings. It was a family epistle sent to far-off family members.
We practice greeting each other when we pass the peace. There are some who will shake hands with the people within immediate range and those who will wander about the nave, hugging any- and everybody. We do it using phrases like "The peace of the Lord" or "Peace be with you," phrases that are reminders that whatever the world offers us, we follow a Lord who offers much more. It's our greeting to any who worship with us, whether we know them or not.
What about those who have worked with us. Do we remember to greet them and acknowledge their work and dedication? Paul remembered, even those who might have been ignored because of their gender. And he didn't just mention them, he gave thanks for them and their work.
But what about those outside the church doors, the people we see on the street or maybe in the grocery store or even begging on the sidewalk? Do we greet them with the same kind of greeting we use for our friends in church? Do we even smile at them, even if we say nothing? Do we even acknowledge their presence and the image of God within them? The running child, the homeless man, the very professional woman picking up something for dinner on her way home from work -- what about them. Do we even notice them much less greet them?
Maybe what we are supposed to learn is that whether it is for performance of tasks, acts of generosity, acknowledgement of commonalities, or just because they are fellow human beings, we should not just see them but notice them.
Greet the folks you know, but remember also to greet those you don't -- they might become new friends or co-workers.
Originally published at Speaking to the Soul on Episcopal Café
Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.*
Final Doxology
Now to God* who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom* be the glory for ever! Amen.* -- Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27Halloween is over and now we are in a season a priest friend used to call "Hallowthankmas." Since Halloween decorations are up from just after Labor Day until Halloween itself, then Thanksgiving decorations are there until Thanksgiving Day. Christmas trees and lights are in the stores during both seasons. Unfortunately for those of us who celebrate Christmas as a season twelve days long, Valentine hearts and cupids appear in the stores on Christmas Day. All the commercial seasons seem to run together, so Hallowthankmas seems to fit just fine.
With the upcoming Christmas season, there are cards to be bought, pictures to be taken for the covers or to be included in the ones we send to family and friends. Usually we enclose some kind of short message or letter, telling everyone what we have done over the year, how much the kids have grown, who's gone off to college, who's gotten married or produced our first, second or dozenth grandchild. We also send greetings to everyone and wishes for a happy holiday season.
Paul's letter to the Romans was the one epistle to a church he hadn't founded and where he wasn't personally known. One way to make points was to thank those who were familiar to the Romans, people who lived and served the Jesus Movement as Presiding Bishop Michael Curry refers to it. Among those mentioned were several women -- Prisca (Priscilla), Mary, and Junia, a woman who has has finally been allowed to have her own feminine name, rather than the Junius assigned to her by men who could not accept women as apostles. Paul didn't neglect the men, naming those who had traveled with him, were imprisoned with him, and who led the congregations. Even Paul's secretary, Tertius, and their hosts, Gaius, Erastus, and Quartus, sent greetings. It was a family epistle sent to far-off family members.
We practice greeting each other when we pass the peace. There are some who will shake hands with the people within immediate range and those who will wander about the nave, hugging any- and everybody. We do it using phrases like "The peace of the Lord" or "Peace be with you," phrases that are reminders that whatever the world offers us, we follow a Lord who offers much more. It's our greeting to any who worship with us, whether we know them or not.
What about those who have worked with us. Do we remember to greet them and acknowledge their work and dedication? Paul remembered, even those who might have been ignored because of their gender. And he didn't just mention them, he gave thanks for them and their work.
But what about those outside the church doors, the people we see on the street or maybe in the grocery store or even begging on the sidewalk? Do we greet them with the same kind of greeting we use for our friends in church? Do we even smile at them, even if we say nothing? Do we even acknowledge their presence and the image of God within them? The running child, the homeless man, the very professional woman picking up something for dinner on her way home from work -- what about them. Do we even notice them much less greet them?
Maybe what we are supposed to learn is that whether it is for performance of tasks, acts of generosity, acknowledgement of commonalities, or just because they are fellow human beings, we should not just see them but notice them.
Greet the folks you know, but remember also to greet those you don't -- they might become new friends or co-workers.
Originally published at Speaking to the Soul on Episcopal Café
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