"Beloved... Greet the Beloved."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully.  I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy.  I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance.  May the season create in me space for transformation into a new heaven and a new earth.  May my thoughts, words, and actions proclaim justices, kindness, and humility.


Romans 16:1-16

16I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae, ²so that you may welcome her in the Lord as is fitting for the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a benefactor of many and of myself as well.

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me in Christ Jesus, ⁴and who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. ⁵Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert in Asia for Christ. ⁶Greet Mary, who has worked very hard among you. ⁷Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. ⁸Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. ⁹Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. ¹⁰Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. ¹¹Greet my relative Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. ¹²Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. ¹³Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; and greet his mother—a mother to me also. ¹⁴Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who are with them. ¹⁵Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. ¹⁶Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

1) "..fitting for the saints;" "...a benefactor of many;" "...risked their necks for my life;" "...give thanks;" "...beloved;" "...beloved;" "...beloved;" "...beloved;"


2) Paul's greeting to people he loves in a far away place makes me think of all the beloved people I have worked with in my years in ministry across western Canada.  It fills me with warmth to think of the treasured relationships that have sustained me.  The people who accompanied me as I discerned a call to ministry, and came out of the closet.  The people who grieved with me when my Dad, then my grandmother, then my grandfather all died in my first year away from home in ministry in Saskatchewan.  The people who did brave cutting edge Affirming ministry with the LGBTQ2 Community with me in Manitoba.  The dear ones I've grieved with as they decided to tear down their church to build housing in Vancouver.  The many, many children, youth and young adult events across the country.  The companions on silent retreats, in workshops, committees, boards, and conferences.  A dozen or so spiritual directors.  A few Twelve Step Meetings.  Five years of seminary and internship, and fifteen years of ministry make for a long journey with so many beloved companions along the way.  Each parting is heartbreaking, but the relationships fill my heart so my heart overflows. 


3) What is the invitation in all this?  To give thanks for all the companionship.  To perhaps write some seasonal letters in this holiday season to greet my beloveds in far off places.


"Holy One, thank you for many years of dedicated companionship in many places."


Breathprayer: "Beloved... greet the beloved."