“Kissin’ Cousins”
A sermon by Sid Burgess for Edgewood PC, Birmingham, AL
August 17, 2008
Text: John 20: 24-29
In today’s gospel lesson, the Risen Jesus stands among the disciples and says, “Peace be with you.” Is this then the origins of the ritual we share each Lord’s day when, following the affirmation of faith and the “Gloria” we exchange the peace of Christ? “The peace of Christ be with you.” “And also with you.”
Well, I’m glad you have asked that question because I’ve been giving it some thought myself. Thought stimulated by an encounter here in worship a couple of weeks ago. This is the story. Elder Kevin Henderson had as his guest in worship his neighbor and friend Melinda Colclough. They were sitting together in Kevin’s appointed spot on the north aisle. Melinda had scant experience with our style of worship so Kevin was whispering a bit of commentary as the service progressed. However, when we came to the sharing of the peace, Kevin simply learned over to Melinda and in his soft North Carolina accent said, “Peace of Christ.” Melinda was a bit taken aback. But then, Melissa Tate, sitting in front of them, spoke to both Kevin and Melinda, saying, “Peace of Christ.” Again, Melinda was taken aback. Turns out that what she heard both Melissa and Kevin say was, “Be surprised.” Not “Peace of Christ” but “Be surprised!”
I tell this story with Melinda’s gracious permission, and I suspect she is not the only one here who has been surprised by this feature in our worship. Our ritual handshake and spoken greeting--“The Peace of Christ”---is still relatively new in Presbyterian tradition. And, if we could travel back in time, travel across the Christians centuries to the visit the New Testament Church, I think it is fair to say that all of us would be surprised by what happened when those earliest followers of Jesus exchanged the “peace of Christ.” Instead of shaking hands, scholars tell us they kissed each other. They were following St. Paul’s instructions. In Romans (16) and 1st Corinthians we are told to “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” Again, in 2nd Corinthians and 1st Thessalonians, “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” In 1st Peter, its “Greet one another with the kiss of love.”
Next time members of Presbytery trot out the tiresome old debate about literal interpretation of certain scripture I think I might just pull up these texts and insist that all the ministers and elders start smacking! Now, I would not have my colleagues be misguided into thinking they could make do with a little light peck on the check. If we are indeed to follow the precedent set by the early church, pucker up, boys!
Michael Penn, writing in the “Journal of Ecclesiastical History,” reports:
By the late fourth and early fifth centuries, kissing had become an established component of early Christian worship. The Christian ritual kiss was a standard part of greetings, prayers, eucharists (Lord’s Supper), baptisms and ordinations. The kiss had a thoroughly documented, three-hundred-year history, stretching back to the Apostle Paul.
Professor Penn goes on to say, “In early Christianity the ritual kiss almost always occurred on the lips.” This was consistent with the prevailing custom in the Greco Roman world, though kissing in that context was normally limited to very close friends and family members.
So, when Christian brothers and sisters--not related by birth or marriage--began to share the ritual kiss it was a “‘powerful counter-cultural symbol,’ implying the sort of intimate link of brothers and sisters in Christ which would have been considered scandalous by those outside the church.”
As the Christian centuries marched onward, and as the Church became more powerful, and as the scramble for power in the church became more pronounced, the ritual kiss became more exclusive. It was used to separate “us” vs. “them;” those considered orthodox from those considered heretical; the conservatives from the liberals It was also used to separate clergy from the lay membership, as over time, only the clergy kissed one another. By the time of the Middle Ages, the congregation had been reduced to mere bystanders, just observing and listening to the priests who would conduct the entire mass with backs turned to the people. Eventually, the kiss became a sign of reverence, even submission, as in kissing the ring of the bishop.
The revival of our ritual greeting, “The peace of Christ,” we owe to the Second Vatican Council, and to the Liturgical Renewal moment it inspired in Protestant circles. And when the “Peace” returned to popular use, it came with the handshake instead of the kiss. Of course, there is nothing in the Bible about shaking hands. Origins of this ritual greeting are obscure, but the consensus seems to be that its purpose is to symbolize equality. Certainly, compared to kissing the hand of a woman, or the ring of the bishop, the hearty handshake, accompanied by eye-to-eye contact, does demonstrate equality and inclusion, two factors accomplished by the kiss in the early church.
But there is more to our weekly ritual than the expression of equality. When we share “the peace of Christ” we are extending to one another the very same spirit of reconciliation we have received from Holy God. This is why many churches exchange “The Peace” immediately following the “Declaration of Pardon.” Having been reconciled to God--“I declare unto you our sins are forgiven”--we now share that reconciliation with each other when we say, “The Peace of Christ be with you.” Here at Edgewood Church we celebrate “The Peace” before the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, as scripture teaches that none of us are to come to table carrying resentment toward another sister or brother in faith.
Regardless of whether the ritual act is a kiss, a handshake, or a hug--regardless of where in the liturgy it comes--the sentiment expressed remains the same.
Remember the setting in John’s story. The disciples are in hiding, locked away in a upper room for fear of further reprisals from religious leaders collaborating with the Roman army of occupation. As John writes his gospel John’s church is experiencing the world’s hatred and persecution. Now comes the Risen Lord bearing the gift of peace he promised in is farewell speech earlier in John. “Peace I leave with you; my peace of give to you”(14.27).
Listen to NT scholar Gail O’Day:
The peace that Jesus gives is his peace, a peace that derives from the heart of Jesus’ life (“Because I live you also will live” 14.19). The peace of Jesus is the ‘all-embracing sphere--the circle--of his life, his love, his joy.
In our liturgy, in our worship each Lord’s day, we are commissioned to share this sacred peace. Jesus has commissioned the Church--the faith community-- to continue the work God has sent him to do. When we say to one another, “The peace of Christ,” we are expressing our commitment to continue Jesus’ work in the world. This not some everyday, ‘Hi, how are you?’ This is a firm commitment to stand with Jesus against violence, warfare, greed, and exploitation. When the nation clamors for war we who proclaim Christ as Lord, urge peace. When political oppression rears its ugly head the peace of Christ commands us to work for justice and freedom. When greed and exploitation threaten the planet entrusted to our care, the peace of Christ inspires us to set the example of “living simply so that others may simply live.”
We can do this because our life together is a life shaped by joy--the joy of the Risen Christ. A life grounded in the gift of peace--the peace of Christ. A life guided by the work of the Holy Spirit.
Now to the Ruler of all worlds,
undying, invisible, the only God,
be honor and glory, forever and ever!
Amen.