The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, greet you warmly in the Lord. All the brothers and sisters send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Let anyone be accursed who has no love for the Lord. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus. (1Corinthians 16: 20-23)

Despite all their troubles in these final lines the Corinthians are assured of Paul's love and the grace of God.

The Corinthians are encouraged to love one another. Only one who has no love for Christ - no regard for the transforming grace of God - is anathema. This is surely an accursed state, but it is self-imposed and can be quickly removed by accepting the love of God.

Most of the letter had been written in the careful Greek script of a skilled transcriber. But in his own hand Paul adds the final lines, including an Aramaic word: maranatha. The translator above renders this as "Our Lord, come!" It can also mean, "Our Lord has come."

Paul has experienced the risen Christ. Paul has experienced the grace of God. Paul has been transformed by the love animating all creation.

The Lord has come. The reign of God is here. Love is victorious over all. But love does not - innately cannot - compel our allegiance. Love is offered. We have the freedom to accept or decline.

Above is a Russian Orthodox icon of the resurrection depicting Christ lifting Adam and Eve from hell.

This concludes 107 meditations on Paul's first letter to Corinthians. Tomorrow I will begin a study of either Amos or Hosea, I am not sure yet of which one. A new URL will be available here.