II John 1:1-13
Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete. (v. 12) Very likely John wrote these words simply to reflect his warmth toward this lady (or this church body), especially the final phrase, …so that our joy may be complete. Face-to-face was much better for John than “paper and ink”. But I also thought of our time as a church body in COVID isolation last year when we were not able to gather together for weeks/months at a time, and finally how it was so wonderful to get back together again. I think back to that time with John’s words, …so that our joy may be complete. And our joy was complete, except for those who had chosen not to return just yet. Being together as a body is so much better than seeing a church service live-streamed or having a Vestry meeting with a Zoom connection. There is much to be said for being together, …so that our joy may be complete.
See also: December 28 / II John 1:1-6; December 29 / II John 1:7-13