Daily Readings - Thu Nov 15 2018

⁷For I have found great joy and consolation in your charity, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother⁸Because of this, I have enough confidence in Christ Jesus to command you concerning certain things⁹but I beg you instead, for the sake of charity, since you are so much like Paul: an old man and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ¹⁰I beg you, on behalf of my son, whom I have begotten in my chains, Onesimus¹¹In times past, he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to me and to you¹²So I have sent him back to you. And may you receive him like my own heart¹³I myself wanted to retain him with me, so that he might minister to me, on your behalf, while I am in the chains of the Gospel¹⁴But I was willing to do nothing without your counsel, so as not to make use of your good deed as if out of necessity, but only willingly¹⁵So perhaps, then, he departed from you for a time, so that you might receive him again for eternity¹⁶no longer as a servant, but, in place of a servant, a most beloved brother, especially to me: but how much so more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord¹⁷Therefore, if you hold me to be a companion, receive him as you would me¹⁸But if he has harmed you in any way, or if he is in your debt, charge it to me¹⁹I, Paul, have written this with my own hand: I will repay. And I need not tell you, that you are also in debt yourself, to me²⁰So it is, brother. May I delight with you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ

Luke

Chapter 17

²⁰Then he was questioned by the Pharisees: "When does the kingdom of God arrive?" And in response, he said to them: "The kingdom of God arrives unobserved²¹And so, they will not say, ‘Behold, it is here,’ or ‘Behold, it is there.’ For behold, the kingdom of God is within you.²²And he said to his disciples: "The time will come when you will desire to see one day of the Son of man, and you will not see it²³And they will say to you, ‘Behold, he is here,’ and ‘Behold, he is there.’ Do not choose to go out, and do not follow them²⁴For just as lightning flashes from under heaven and shines to whatever is under heaven, so also will the Son of man be in his day²⁵But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation

Sermon

In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the transformative power of faith and compassion. The letter to Philemon highlights Paul's heartfelt plea for Philemon to accept Onesimus, a former slave turned brother in Christ, emphasizing the equality and unity found in faith. This story illustrates how faith can change our perspectives and relationships, urging us to see others through the lens of compassion and shared humanity. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of God is not something to be awaited with grandeur but is already present among us. He warns against being deceived by false signs and reminds us that the Kingdom is within. This message calls us to recognize God's presence in our daily lives and in every person we encounter. Connecting these readings, we see a common theme of community and compassion. Just as Philemon is urged to see Onesimus as a brother, we too are called to recognize the divine spark in everyone. The Kingdom of God is not just a future hope but a present reality lived out in our interactions. As we navigate our daily lives, let us embody this Kingdom by treating others with love and respect, seeing Christ in each person we meet. This is the heart of our faith—unity and compassion in action.