Epistle of Paul to the Romans 16:1-27
16:1-2 Paul begins to close his letter to the Romans, making special comments to people who have helped him along in his journey. Our acknowledgment and gratitude toward those who work with us to create, inspire, protect and restore compassion on the earth is essential to our productivity here.
16:3-4 Commendations are given to Priscilla and Aquila who are "fellow workers" among Paul in God. This is how we kind find order and purpose in our lives: to be fellow workers with creation. To create: light, happiness, friendship, compassion, hope, opportunity, strength and so much more in the places and people who require it.
16:5-16 We are a system. Together we can build each other up, become more capable and can extend beyond personal limits. Our connections here are meaningful and every interaction is instrumental to our impact on the world. Paul is particular in his gratitude toward those who have helped him but also toward those who tirelessly help others. He recognizes their value.
16:17-18 Paul cautions against living without compassionate direction. When our intention is driven by procurement we neglect the health of our selves, the wellbeing of others and the condition of the world. This doctrine, this Bible, guides us on the way to be and remain patient, wise and purposeful. Paul cautions us against derailing from it not because he wants us to fear some kind of punishment but because knows how detrimental it is to our lives when we live contrary to it.
When you do not live for others, you fail in either of two ways: 1) You live for yourself; 2) You live for nothing. The reason is because when you care for others, you realize your own value by the limitless ways in which you can enrich their lives. You realize your own impact on the world. However when you live for yourself, you neglect the vital human connections which spark true life. Some people even abuse them: with anger, vengeance, greed, impatience, intolerance. Similarly, when you live for nothing, you neglect your purpose. We are each bound here with purpose but that tether loosens if we ignore it and we become unmoored, lost, directionless, held in a slumber: what we could have done for the world, who we could have been becomes obsolete.
Paul also reminds us that our actions and words can hurt others, even inadvertently. We have a blessed opportunity here to make sure that what we are speaking to the world and humanity, through our words and actions, is beneficial to those around us.
16:19 A reminder that we must align ourselves everyday with what life, light, love and creation have taught and are teaching us. We must work everyday to cultivate humility and compassion, to be simultaneously aware of both our strength and our fallibility.
16:20 This word: Satan, is representative of many things. It represents our adversity as well as our adversaries, our weaknesses as well as our insecurities. Whatever, whoever troubles you will be removed from you. While on earth, God helps us to navigate these bumps and even teaches the wisdom to avoid them (if we are listening and avid students). After earth, those bumps do not even exist.
Remember that bumps exist here because this life is a landscape of freedom, learning and choice. Humans are given the earth to create themselves but some people choose to create bumps instead (for themselves and for others).
After earth, each person has created who they are and what they stand for and those creations either align with life after earth or they do not (and therefore cannot exist). Meaning: no bumps.
16:21-24 Greetings are returned to Paul for his compassionate work. May the grace of God be with all of His children and fellow works indeed because there is so much good to do.
16:25-27 God has given us this earth and these souls which spark and house the life inside of us. The wisdom and compassion with which He has created us and the world is revealed to us for our benefit: spiritually, emotionally, purposely.
