在北美长大的我，不大熟悉两个成年男士见面时亲吻的传统。直至长大后我才明白，在世界各地很多地方都有这个传统。记得在电视节目中，我曾看过昔日苏联领袖会见盟军领袖的场景，每一次见面，领袖们都会互相拥抱、捏一下对方颧骨后面的肌肉、然后亲吻对方两边的面颊。
无论采用什么方式，亲吻就是一个彼此靠近的动作，除去彼此的恐惧与敌意。亲吻的目的是要表达善意：一个向对方展示充满和平的见面礼，代表一份彼此关心的感情。比如，新娘和新郎亲吻表达对彼此一生不渝的爱情和友情的承诺，主教亲吻教皇的指环显示的是敬畏和尊重。
加略人犹大已决定与人密谋出卖耶稣（这位自己的朋友、主人，和夫子），而他特意选择以亲吻来作为记号，达成他的计谋。他选择了这个代表和平、爱、关怀、友谊，和尊敬的标志，使它变成一个死亡之吻。
耶稣，祢是和平、情感、关怀、友谊，和尊重的源头。可是，一个象征这些福份的标志，竟然被人用来做谋算杀害祢的记号。主啊，我们为此与祢一同叹息。求祢帮助我们忠心于祢。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。
马太福音 26:47-50
47说话之间，那十二个门徒里的犹大来了，并有许多人带着刀棒，从祭司长和民间的长老那里与他同来。"The betrayer had arranged a signal with them: 'The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.'" — Matthew 26:48
Growing up in North America, I wasn't familiar with the custom in which two adult men would kiss each other in greeting. But as an adult I learned that it was common in many societies around the world. I remember television coverage of leaders of the former Soviet Union as they greeted the leaders of allied nations. In each greeting, the leaders would embrace, pinch the flesh behind each other's cheekbones, and then kiss one another on each side of the face.
However it's done, a kiss involves getting close to someone in a way that is meant to erase all fear of harm or ill will. A kiss is meant to express good things: a peace-filled greeting for the other party; the affection of two people who care for each other; the pledge of permanent love and friendship between a bride and groom; or even the measure of reverence or respect that a bishop expresses when he kisses the ring of the Pope.
After Judas Iscariot made his financial contract to betray Jesus, his friend, master, and teacher, he deliberately chose the kiss as the way to carry out his part in the plot. He chose the symbol of peace, affection, care, friendship, and respect—and transformed it into a kiss of death.
Peace, affection, caring, friendship, respect—Jesus, you are the source of all these blessings. Yet a symbol of all these good things became a signal in the plot to kill you. We sigh with you, Lord. Help us to be faithful. In your name, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
