In a moment I will read a passage from Rom 16 – but before I read allow me to set it up...
Paul is writing a post-script to his grand theological discourse known as the book of Romans
... he is signing-off – the so called chapter 16 - is of a completely different tone... filled with greetings, appreciation and gratitude.
Though Paul has not yet been to the church in Rome – many of his friends and ministry partners now find
themselves there.
The year is 57 AD – it's only been 25 years or so since Jesus was walking the dusty streets of Jerusalem.
...Paul wrote about the righteousness of God in his opening remarks;
“TO ALL IN Rome WHO ARE LOVED BY GOD AND CALLED TO BE HIS HOLY PEOPLE. GRACE AND PEACE TO YOU FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND FROM THE LORD Jesus Christ...“in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – the righteous that is by faith from first to last – the righteous will live by faith.” (Rom 1:17)
...It's all very new – it's not long ago that Jesus was crucified... rose from the grave... Folded his grave clothes... walked out of there...And then appeared to his disciples’ multiple times - over a period of 40 days.
I guess they needed some convincing that it was all true.
It's not too much later that the maverick himself – Saul of tarsus. Pharisee & son of a pharisee...Persecutor of Christians -- is brought to his knees on a road just outside Damascus.
Paul – as he is now called, carries the gospel torch into virgin territory... taking risks on a daily basis...
He is undoubtably the grand troubadour of the good news.
Such pioneering work includes some inevitable risk.
He’s Shipwrecked.
Ambushed.
3 times he was left for dead.
2 cor 11:25-28... Five times I received the forty lashes minus one. { I take it he was counting...37-38-39}. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked,
I spent a night and a day in the open sea,
26 ...in danger from bandits, ... in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.
It seems nothing can slow Paul down...as we see when reading of his travel plans in ch 15
Rom 15:23 ... now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you,24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while.
Paul is heading to Spain on another gospel mission.
He’s Stopping in Rome
He longs to see old friends and ministry partners.
And so here’s how Paul concludes his letter:
16 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.
3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
5 Greet also the church that meets at their house.
Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.
6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.
7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among[d] the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
...12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord.
Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.
13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.
** it must have been hard for Paul to recruit partners and teammates – I’m sure word got around ...”hanging around Paul could cost you your life.”
Yet many did answer the call – and according to Romans 16 - many of them were women.
We shouldn’t be surprised.
When I listened to David talk about his Mom - I was reminded of this passage.
Carol N. belongs here in the company of these women in Romans 16.
She helped many in the service of Christ...
You are here today ...
• Phoebe – deacon – she helped many – including me says Paul.
• Priscilla & Aquila – they put their lives on the line for the gospel
o They had a house church – maybe they we targeted?
Mary – known for good old-fashioned hard work
o Setting up the chairs
o Finding a makeshift pulpit perhaps?
o Printing the words to an old hymn perhaps?
Tryphena & Tryphosa (Sisters? Twins???)
Persis –“another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord’s (work)”
But the most intriguing remark is reserved for verse 13 – “greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord – and his mother – who has been a mother to be too.”
This lady earned the respect of the apostle Paul – even to the point of being a mother to him.
That’s a fitting comparison for Carol N ... she hosted and helped many – many of you here today.
She left an impression on you.
She showed you care, kindness and opened her home to you.
Paul was often in a hurry I suspect – he’s off to preach somewhere... he’s running late... no time to eat...
This mother of Rufus - takes charge and says to Paul – “I don’t care if you’re an apostle – sit down and eat.
“You can’t preach if you don’t eat.”
Where would Paul be without such a mom?
Where would the Newman family be without a Mom like Carol?
*** And now, Carol, the Mom, has gone home.
Gone on a head of us...
The Loss is real.
Her longstanding presence is now an absence
A void has been created.
The family core has been altered.
We lost our Mom in October 2007 – she was also in this very same funeral home and is buried here in the local cemetery.
But the story is not yet fully told...
There is the promise of life beyond this life.
The same apostle Paul wrote these words... when writing to the Corinthians:
The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
The poet George Herbert lived in the 17th century(1593-1633)... he himself died at age 40.
He wrote A poem about hope in Christ called “The Dawning:”
The Dawning
Arise, sad heart; if thou dost not withstand,
Christ's resurrection thine may be;
Do not by hanging down
break from the hand
Which, as it riseth, raiseth thee:
Arise,
Arise;
And with His burial linen dry thine eyes.
Conclusion:
Carol N. – faithful servant... godly mother – a mother to many; most especially to her own – David, and Peter.
