Today’s Sermon in a Nutshell:"Salute one another..."

Today’s Sermon in a Nutshell:

"Salute one another..."

Today we celebrate the birth of our Nation and, as patriots, we acknowledge this fact by proudly flying the flag. We also “salute” the flag (and what it stands for) by removing our caps, placing our hand upon our heart during the singing of the National Anthem, while those in uniform – from Scouts to our Armed Forces and Civil Authorities – salute it by raising their right hand to their brow.

As Christians we also have a special salute we give, not only towards God, but to each other as well. Whenever we come together or depart from each other, the Church encourages us to, “Salute one another with a holy kiss” (2nd Cor. 13:12) or a “kiss of peace,” depicting our love for one another.

The Greek word aspasomai, meaning salute, is often mis-translated into English as “greet” or “to greet,” yet at its core it holds a much greater sentiment and nuance. It means to bestow an intimate gesture of love, honor, respect, and acknowledgment that Christ dwells in the other person, hence the Kiss of Peace. It is affectionately practiced either upon meeting or departing, much like the Hawaiian word, Aloha. 

Although still practiced during the Divine Liturgy amongst the clergy, the “Kiss of Peace” exchanged between the laity prior to the Creed has all but vanished in most churches. This is somewhat sad because this Kiss of Peace was one of the liturgy’s most ancient customs. It was there in the beginning of the Early Church and reinforced by the teachings of Sts. Peter and Paul in their epistles (1st Peter 5:14; Romans 16:16; 1st Corinthians 16:20; 2nd Corinthians 13:12; 1st Thessalonians 5:26). After the tenth century, however, this practice began to dissipate amongst the lay congregation, and by the fourteenth century it had already ceased. 

The Roman Catholic Church, as part of their Vatican II reformations, tried to reinstitute the concept of the Kiss of Peace by shaking hands with those seated around you, but it never conveyed the full meaning anticipated by Christians sharing a familial kiss. In the Orthodox Church’s liturgical revival of the 60’s and 70’s, the Kiss of Peace was also encouraged, but with most parishes having pews, this made it difficult. 

We have a few remnants of the Kiss of Peace still practiced when we greet one another and exchange the Paschal kiss or celebratory kisses on feasts, and the kiss we bestow upon one another as we ask for forgiveness prior to the Great Fast. 

Fr. John

(Painting of Sts. Peter and Paul kissing each other before their martyrdom)