Skip to main content

Greetings


Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, 
To God’s holy people in Ephesus,] the faithful in Christ Jesus:
                 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:1-2)

To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7)

To the churches in Galatia:
                Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1:2-3)

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 
          Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:1-2) 

          It at least used to be that when we wrote friendly letters, we’d begin with something like, “How are you?” or “I hope this letter finds you in good spirits.” Maybe it’s just me, but that sort of greeting, while nice, is about as bland as “Happy Birthday” or “Happy Holidays.” If that’s your greeting, go with it. But I like Paul’s. Grace and peace. 
          They’re like wisdom, direction, and attitude. If we have them, it doesn’t matter as much if we have good health or pleasant circumstances. And he doesn’t just wish them any old grace and peace, he wishes them grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This, to me, is sirloin, while “hope you’re feeling well” is mashed potatoes. Maybe in Paul’s day, “grace and peace” was the mashed potatoes, maybe he and others said, “grace and peace” with as little thought as we give to “Hi, how are ya?” Maybe, “And with you also” was their, “Fine thanks, and you?” but I don’t get the same feeling from it, the feeling that says I’m paying so little attention that I assume you’re saying “Fine thanks, and you,” even if you’re saying, “I’m about ready to commit suicide, thanks, and you?”
          I’m trying to decide how to greet the new year, and how to be more present when I greet the people I find in it.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Saved?

  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ” (Matthew 7:21-23) Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” (Romans 3:4)   What conclusion do you draw when someone who was raised in a Christian family and church, perhaps even playing a significant role in a chur...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Virgin?

           Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)           This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18)           But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”            “How will this be,” Mary asked the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Meditations of the Heart

  May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm19:14)           As I started writing this post, I noted that the meditations of my heart are all over the mental landscape, from a hub where eight superhighways come together to a lunar or nuclear landscape. Do you see my error? The moment I read the word meditation , I think about thoughts. But what’s described here is the meditations of our hearts ; our wills.           While the meditations of our minds may be all over the place, the meditations of our wills tend to be a little more stable by the time we are adults. We no longer tend to want to pursue the ten separate careers we did in any given day as children. Part of this is humble acceptance of reality. We come to understand that we can’t do it all. I think another part of it is disappointmen...
Post a Comment
Read more