Peace to you
I have many things to write you, but I don’t want to write to you with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name. 3 John 1:13-15 CSB
This book in the Bible is the shortest book. John seemed to have wanted to include more, “but I don’t want to write to you with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.” From my own perspective, I think this is also true today with our technology. Sure, we can type a text message and have a conversation that way, but speaking in person, face to face, in my opinion, is better, especially when you can convey more complex things with your body language. The time when Pastor Noel and I had to speak to a webcam during COVID lockdown was very difficult. When restrictions were lifted somewhat and we could meet outdoors, even though we were facing the cold and strong winds, I remember how happy everyone was able to converse face to face again. As a church family, we were able to encourage one another to get through that difficult time. John, who could’ve written a longer letter, like the Gospel of John or Revelation, instead elected to drop the pen and prayed for the day when the opportunity came to visit his friend Gaius. In the same way, we should also visit and speak to one another, love one another, and encourage one another. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” John ends with a short benediction of peace and wholeness and completeness to Gaius and fellow believers, “Peace to you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name.” (in Hebrew, the phrase translated from “peace to you,” is shalom).
Blessings,
Isaac De Guzman
