All the Churches of Christ Greet You

This meditation is based on a passage for July 26, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Romans 16:1-16

Reflection and Question: The New Revised Standard Version mentions in its notes that Junia in verse 7 is changed in later manuscripts to a masculine form, Junias. This highlights the way in which the ministry of women was minimized in the church over time and reminds us that God’s call is to whom God calls, including those whom the church might exclude. Phoebe, mentioned here, serves in the office of deacon and yet large parts of the church, even today, are blind to women’s calls to ministry. How does your church greet the kind of faithful Paul greets here?

Prayer: Dearest Jesus, through You, we are one with all the saints in heaven and on earth. So, we greet with Paul these faithful servants, who answered Your call in their time, as we do today. Bless us, we pray, as You blessed them, to Your service. Amen.