【双语灵修】鲁孚和他的母亲，新造的人RUFUS AND HIS MOTHER, NEW CREATIONS
罗马书 16:13
又问在主蒙拣选的鲁孚和他母亲安，他的母亲就是我的母亲。
4月28日
鲁孚和他的母亲，新造的人
“又问在主蒙拣选的鲁孚和他母亲安，他的母亲就是我的母亲。” - 罗马书 16:13
今天，让我们再看一组保罗在《罗马书》16章提到的人：鲁孚和他的母亲。首先是鲁孚：保罗对鲁孚的评语是他是“在主里蒙拣选的”。我们不确定保罗为什么特意这样形容鲁孚，因为“在主里蒙拣选”其实正是描述每一个信耶稣的人。难道是罗马的基督徒群体对鲁孚对基督的委身存有一些怀疑吗？如果是这样，保罗在此提到他，就是为了平息疑虑。无论如何，鲁孚是“在基督里”的。
接下来，鲁孚的母亲被特别提到，因为她待保罗就像母亲一样。看起来，通过照顾保罗这位难得享受家庭温暖的旅行宣教士，她以各种方式显明了自己是“在基督里”的。当像保罗这样的人在旅途中受到款待、照顾和欢迎时，他们就会记住像鲁孚母亲这样的人。
鲁孚的母亲让我想起耶稣，祂的款待和接纳总是那么美好，始终如一且真诚。例如，想像耶稣给大群人提供食物的情景（《马可福音》6:30-44; 8:1-13）。想像祂充满恩典地再次呼召彼得来事奉（《约翰福音》21:15-19；参阅4月12日灵修）。试想耶稣的灵正住在鲁孚母亲的心里，这位新造的人，她的关怀和仁慈指向了神在新创造中的工作，引导她变得更像耶稣。
祷告
主啊，求你活在我们里面。我们想要看见基督的复活在我们里面动工。我们想要看见表明我们同样是新造之人的记号。主啊，求你赐给我们真正的喜乐与平安。阿们。
Romans 16:13
TUESDAY, APRIL 28
RUFUS AND HIS MOTHER, NEW CREATIONS
Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. —Romans 16:13
Today let’s look at one more set of people whom Paul mentions in Romans 16: Rufus and his mother.
First, Rufus: Paul’s comment about Rufus is that he is “chosen in the Lord.” We’re not sure why Paul says that about Rufus, because the phrase “chosen in the Lord” describes every believer in Jesus. Could there have been some doubt within the Christian community in Rome about Rufus’s commitment to Christ? If so, Paul means to quell any sense of doubt by including Rufus here. In any case, Rufus is “in Christ.”
Next, Rufus’s mother is noted as being like a mother to Paul. In various ways, it seems, she revealed that she was “in Christ” through her care for Paul, a traveling missionary who rarely experienced the comforts of home. When people like Paul received hospitality, care, and welcome while traveling, they remembered people like Rufus’s mother.
Rufus’s mother reminds me of Jesus, whose hospitality and welcome were beautifully consistent and authentic. Picture Jesus providing food for large crowds, for example (Mark 6:30-44; 8:1-13). Picture him graciously calling Peter to serve again (John 21:15-19; April 12). Think about Jesus’ Spirit living in the heart of Rufus’s mother, a new creation whose care and kindness pointed to God’s work in the new creation, leading her to become like Jesus.
Live in us too, Lord. We want to see Christ’s resurrection at work in us. We want to see signs that we too are new creations. Give us that joy and peace, Lord. Amen.