Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Thessalonians 5:26 (English Standard Version)

Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

We usually joke about this verse. Then we dismiss it as something cultural that was done a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

I think we miss the key word in this little sentence: HOLY.

Throughout this letter to a church, the writer reminds the Christians again and again that they are different now that they are in Christ Jesus. They see things differently. They react differently. They treat people differently.

And they greet one another differently.

They don’t just kiss when they meet—the norm of the culture then—they give a HOLY kiss. A greeting that everyone can see is different; a greeting that shows everyone they live differently in Christ Jesus.

When I meet a new co-worker, we greet each other per the norms of our culture.

When I meet my granddaughter, we greet each other in a completely different manner.

When Christians meet, our greeting should show everyone that we live differently in Christ Jesus. Let us give HOLY greetings to one another. HOLY handshakes. HOLY hugs. HOLY smiles.