Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
All things culturally change, even the way that people greet one another. Modern slang salutations include: ‘Sup? Hah-ya-do-win? Yo! Was es goin on? Wah-sup? Whach-a-up-ta, dude? Add new gestures to the mix, such as a hand slap or elbow bump (the later a vestige of the pandemic). Some traditional rituals seem on the verge of extinction.
If you are ever in Ireland avoid at all costs, “Top of the morning!” The native Irish hate this and is one of the reasons they call their American cousins “plastic paddies.”
I have attended liturgies over the years (not at IC) where the presider began our worship not with the sign of the cross and a scriptural greeting but with popular kudos. Some cringe worthy greetings I have heard from the presider’s chair include “How ‘bout them Reds?” and “Who dey!” to the strangest one of all “Goooood morning Saint ” (in imitation of Robin Williams’ “Goooood morning, Vietnam.”) So much for an invitation into the divine.
Today Paul greets the assembly of believers at Rome with the familiar “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:7) This Pauline salutation is found in Ephesians and Philippians, too. Other familiar “Paul-lines” used in our worship: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all." (2 Corinthians); "The Lord be with you." (2 Timothy); "And with your spirit." (Galatians & 2 Timothy). “Peace be with you,” is reserved for a bishop, the greeting of the Risen Christ on the first Easter Sunday night.
Paul’s greeting today is just for starters. Our Mass is very biblical. Nearly everything we say and everything we do at Mass has its roots in sacred scripture. This is not widely known by Catholics, let alone Protestants. It would require a much longer essay here to even begin to explore.
But even the most a-liturgical among us would agree that secular greetings pale against those found in the inspired scriptures (as in our Roman Missal) combining salutations and blessings, rooted in Christ.
“Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!” Is there a greater way to address a community of believers than this? Is there a better way to live in a community than with belief in this?
-Timothy J. Cronin