Greetings! That word of Jesus (Matthew 28:9 JB) is one of the best sentences in the Bible. The power of the Resurrection is there. Deeper than ‘Hi there’ or ‘Kia ora’, although it includes the warmth, friendship and well-being of those greetings. Here is the depth of love and humour (‘You thought I was dead, didn’t you? Well, here I am fully alive!), the fullness of hope, energy, life for you, my friends.I am not sure if it is the most telling sentence in the Bible. Some would say ‘Jesus wept’ (John 11:35) is, but that’s another discussion.
Right now let’s reflect on how we greet and farewell each other, one of those small but vital (or not!) aspects of daily life!
The way we greet each other can even make or break a person’s day!
I think of that policeman who was killed a while back in Flaxmere. He had come home for lunch and in saying goodbye to his wife spoke with simple meaning, ‘I love you’. He was shot later that day. Wow! I bet she never regrets what turned out to be a final expression of love.
I was taken aback by one confrere who shared that, while some confreres greeted him positively and affirmatively, some greetings by his fellow Marists seemed to express a thinly veiled sarcasm. ‘You make a better door than a window’; ‘I see you still have your pajamas on’; ‘Having the day off again are you?’; ‘You’re fading away to a mountain I see’; ‘Who do you think you are wearing that’! Mmmmm. It made me stop and think how I express my own hellos and goodbyes.
Perhaps those expressions were an attempt to be humourous. Maybe they covered an inability to relate in a fully personal, affirming exchange? Whatever, they seem far from the ‘deep mutual love, the respect for each other as brothers in the Lord, the listening and frequent communication in friendship’ the Constitutions speak of (CSM 28, 29).
It may be interesting to explore and learn from the greetings and farewells in the Bible. Jesus’ own constant emphasis on ‘Peace’ (John 20:20f) and ‘Don’t be afraid’ (Luke 8:50; Matthew 14:28). Then, this year of Paul reveals some of the most tender and graced expressions. They speak of reverence and love. ‘Grace, mercy and peace’ (1 Tim 1:2), ‘My brothers and dear friends’ (Phil 4:1). Who is not moved by the farewell of Paul from Ephesus with its prayer, tears, hugs and kisses! (Acts 20:36-38). Not that I am advocating we return to Pere Colin’s ‘Messieurs ‘, or become overly liturgical ‘The Lord be with you’!
Many of us have been caught up in comings and goings, hellos and goodbyes, shifting from one community and ministry to another. Maybe it is good at the start of the year to choose to greet and farewell each other positively and affirmatively, as Mary would.
I am moved by the farewell phrase inherited from Noel Delaney, ‘Mary care’. I am excited by Dave Gledhill’s vision of greeting God in a hongi, sharing the breath of eternal life in an everlasting meeting of mind and heart!
You can take it from here. What are the nicest greetings and farewells in your experience? Benvenuto? Ciao bello? Hasta la Vista, A tona wa?
Mary care.
Phil Cody