Hey, I can't pronounce that name!

I have a confession to make and it is this:  though I read the Bible or listen to the Bible read regularly, I sometimes skim over a long list of names in the Bible.    I do it largely because I am uncertain how well I am pronouncing those names from another time and culture.    I wonder if you do the same when you come to the genealogies of Jesus at the beginning of Matthew or Luke… or the long list of names in the Book of Numbers?   Recently, I came across a long list of names as I listened to the reading of the book of Romans.  Instead of skimming over the names, for some reason I paid attention to these words in Romans 16: 1-15 (NIV):

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon^[a][b] 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^[c] 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.  ⁸ Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.  ⁹ Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.  ¹⁰ Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test.  Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.  ¹¹ Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew.  Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.  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.  ¹⁴ Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.   ¹⁵ Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them.

Most of these names are certainly not “household names” (as the character Forest Gump puts it in the movie several years ago).   Names like Urbanus, Rufus, and Apelles are certainly are not as well known to Christians today as names like Peter, Paul, and  Timothy.   Yet,  each of these persons were serving in the work of Christ in the Church of Rome.   I  give thanks to God for the legion of people  whose names are forgotten and not well known who are serving Christ today across this globe in churches large and small, rural and urban .  Their names might not make the headlines in the Church at large or even in their community, but their names are written in the Lamb’s book of Life.    Thanks be to God.   Grace and peace.-   Rev. Randy L. Wall

PRAYER   Lord,   you know us better than we know ourselves.  I give thanks to all those who serve you across this globe and who have served you through the years.  Thank you for the love of Christ known because of  their lives.  Help me go and do likewise; through Christ our Lord.  Amen.