For the several centuries after Pentecost, Christians shared the peace of Christ with one another by sharing a holy kiss, following the plain instructions of scripture (Rom 16:16, 1 Cor 16:20, 2 Cor 13:12, 1 Thess 5:26, 1 Peter 5:14). At the part of our service called “the passing of the peace” men exchanged a kiss, usually on the cheek, with one another and women did the same.
Sometime around the Great Schism, however, this practice was modified. Instead of kissing one another, Christians during Holy Eucharist instead kissed a “pax” or a “pax brede” —a board, usually carved wood overlaid with precious metal. Instead of exchanging the kiss of peace with other humans, Christians kissed a board symbolizing the church.
This brought with it some problems. Who kisses the board first? Who kisses last? What do we make of the literal pecking order of the kissing of the pax?
In the very attempt of trying to keep things clean and sanitized, less “messy.” things became —in fact— even more messy. Fights broke-out between those who were brothers in Christ. Licentiousness broke-out among those who were called to love one another in purity and chastity.
We had exchanged the image of God (our brother or sister) for a graven image (the pax board), trading the glory of God in our neighbor for an idol made with hands. Idols, the psalmist tells us, cannot hear or breathe (Ps. 135:15-18). Idols also cannot kiss.
The gift of the Spirit brings life and breathe into his church. We participate in the work of the Spirit when we, being at peace with God, pass the peace, breathe life into one another. Let us not grieve the Spirit, but rather find ways to reclaim the ancient practice of passing the kiss of peace.