I am by nature naughty. Not evil, but mischievous. Every year I write a report to the Bishop about what I did as a retired pastor the past year. Since I question whether anyone reads my drivel, I  answer one question in Latin. No one has noticed this naughty peculiarity of mine.

Though I have been taught Greek, Hebrew and a smattering of French and German, I am almost illiterate in these languages. I am a tad better at Latin. I was reading a sermon with the Scripture text given in both English and the Vulgate Latin. It was 1 Peter 3:9, “Beloved, be you all of one mind in prayers” or, in Latin, “Carissimi, estote unanimes in oratione.” Carissimi, beloved, got to me. I would have translated it, “Dearest Ones.” So St. Peter addressed his flock as Dearest Ones. What if  I started my blogs that way?

It’s hard to translate things. In his Christmas hymn “From Heaven Above,” Martin Luther prays to Jesus as “mein herzliebes Jesulein” usually translated “my dearest little Jesus.” But “mein herzliebes” is more like “my heart’s love” or “my dear heart.”  It has overtones of affection and tenderness. How many people today would address God as “my dear heart”?

I don’t know if it is being American or living in the 21st century that has caused us to shudder at the intimate language that Christians once used to address God and each other. Do you find it a loss or an improvement? Or am I being naughty even bringing up the subject?

Read Philippians 2:1-2 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne