"A Mother to Me Also"
“Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and greet his mother—a mother to me also.”
Romans 16:13
With this short and powerful commendation, Paul introduces us to a woman who likely stood as witness to some of the most dramatic moments of Christ’s life and the life of the early Church. The Mother of Rufus is commonly believed to be the mother of the same Rufus mentioned in Mark 15:21:
They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.
If she is indeed the wife of Simon of Cyrene, and the mother of Alexander and Rufus, then this woman whose name has been lost to history was probably a supporter of Christ’s ministry, a witness to his death and resurrection, and a foundational patron of the early Church. We can imagine that her husband’s experience of carrying Christ’s cross changed them all irrevocably, binding them with His suffering in a deep and tender awe.
Not only this, but her generosity, hospitality, and largeness of heart brought Paul to call her “a mother to me also.” She, alongside her family, gave the whole of herself to Christ, and in their joy towards the Church the family of God knit together into something that could withstand great change and persecution. Her warm adoption of others into her family circle leaves a lineage which we honor to this day.
In Heather’s icon of Women of the New Testament, the Mother of Rufus stands at the top right. If you are able to support our current fundraiser, we would be deeply grateful. As a sign of our appreciation, we are pleased to offer you a high-quality 8×10 print of this icon, produced on heavyweight, acid-free cardstock with a matte finish, ready for framing. With a gift of $100 or more—or a monthly commitment of $10 or more—we will send you this icon as a reminder of the shared calling that your generosity helps sustain.