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REFLECTION

The Holy kiss is the theme for our reflection. Kiss has been a sign of greetings among the Jews and Romans even before the arrival of Christianity. It was a cultural practice and greetings restricted to male to male and female to female. Paul however coined the phrase the Holy kiss and it was also known as a kiss of peace.

Paul’s Christian audience at Corinth will have no qualms, cultural or moral issues with his admonishment that “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (2 Corinthians 13:12). The holy kiss is the symbol of the preceding instructions. In other words Paul is encouraging the Conrithians to employ their culturally accepted sign of greetings as a way of deepening unity, peace and love in Christ. The Holy kiss is to “Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:11) Before the coming of the COVID-19 people of some countries in Europe still had the culture of warmly embracing one another and exchanging kisses on the cheek as a symbol of greetings and affection.

Culture is diverse and a practice which may be acceptable in one ethnic group or race may be rejected or unacceptable in another. Kiss is one of such practices. With the wide spread of homosexuality and concern for public health and cultural sensitivity, Paul’s admonishment to greet one another with a holy kiss may not be literally practised in all situations but given meaning through other culturally acceptable signs of showing peace, unity and love. Handshakes and hugs have become generally accepted ways of showing affection, reconciliation, peace and love. If Paul were to be writing in our day, he would have written that “Greet one another with a holy shand shake, hug, a high five or taking a bow “. Kiss has predominantly become a sign of sexual desire and love restricted to heterosexual relationships although it is being practiced by people of other sexual orientations not sanctioned by the Christian Bible. The understanding and interpretation we must give to Paul’s admonishment is that we must “greet each other and live in peace and love with one another” A cultural interpretation and a generally acceptable practices must be employed to achieve the same purpose Paul wishes for the Conrithians. Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit strengthen us to maintain the bond of peace and love in the body of Christ through culturally relevant and acceptable practices that is pleasing to God. Amen.