\n<\/p>
Genesis is the kissingest book in the Bible. <\/span> Isaac kisses Jacob when he comes in disguised as Esau, Jacob kisses Rachel when he arrives in <\/span> Haran <\/span> , and then Laban turns around and kisses Jacob. <\/span> When Jacob returns from Laban\u2019s, Esau runs to give him a hairy kiss, and when Joseph meets his brothers, he kisses them. <\/span> Joseph brings his sons to Jacob so their grandfather can kiss them from his deathbed, and Joseph kisses and weeps over his dying father. <\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Most of the kisses in Genesis are not, like the kisses in the Song of Songs, erotic or romantic. <\/span> They are familial. <\/span> People kiss to welcome brothers, sons, sisters, fathers. <\/span> Kissing is a sign of kinship. <\/span> <\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In a number of places in Genesis, a kiss welcomes an estranged brother. <\/span> Fourteen years before, Esau drove Jacob from the land because he wanted to kill him. <\/span> But when he returns he can\u2019t wait to kiss him. <\/span> Joseph\u2019s kiss to his brothers is a sign he has forgiven them. <\/span> It was a kiss of peace. <\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Every Lord\u2019s day before the Eucharist, we exchange peace, embrace one another, and greet one another with a holy kiss. <\/span> This isn\u2019t chat time, and it isn\u2019t just a formality. <\/span> <\/span> By this rite, we show that we are a family, ready to sit at the family table spread by our Father and hosted by Jesus, our elder brother. <\/span> By this rite, we show that through Jesus we are reconciled with estranged brothers. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Genesis is the kissingest book in the Bible. Isaac kisses Jacob when he comes in disguised as Esau, Jacob kisses Rachel when he arrives in Haran , and then Laban turns around and kisses Jacob. When Jacob returns from Laban\u2019s, Esau runs to give him a hairy kiss, and when Joseph meets his brothers, he […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3021,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-theology-liturgical"],"yoast_head":"\n