Daily Readings - Thu Nov 12 2020

⁷For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.⁸Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required,⁹yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you--I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus--¹⁰I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment.¹¹(Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)¹²I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.¹³I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel,¹⁴but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own free will.¹⁵For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever,¹⁶no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother--especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.¹⁷So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me.¹⁸If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.¹⁹I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it--to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.²⁰Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

Luke

Chapter 17

²⁰Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed,²¹nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you."²²And he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.²³And they will say to you, 'Look, there!' or 'Look, here!' Do not go out or follow them.²⁴For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.²⁵But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about transformation, reconciliation, and the presence of God's Kingdom. The first reading from Philemon highlights Paul's heartfelt plea to Philemon to accept Onesimus, a former slave, as a brother in Christ. This letter underscores the transformative power of faith, where social hierarchies are transcended by the unity found in Christ. Paul's request is not just about reconciliation but also about recognizing the inherent dignity of every individual as a child of God. The Gospel from Luke shifts our focus to Jesus' teachings on the Kingdom of God. He explains that the Kingdom is not something to be observed with signs or external events but is already present within us. This internal reality of God's Kingdom challenges us to seek spiritual growth and divine presence in our daily lives. Jesus warns against being misled by false claims of the Messiah's arrival, emphasizing that the Kingdom's presence is more about inner transformation than external spectacle. Both readings invite us to reflect on how we view others and our own spirituality. Philemon's story calls us to treat everyone with love and respect, seeing the divine in each person. The Gospel reminds us that true spiritual growth is an internal journey, where God's presence is cultivated in our hearts. As we navigate our daily lives, may we embrace the transformative power of faith, fostering reconciliation and recognizing the ever-present Kingdom of God within us. Let us strive to live with compassion and mindfulness of God's presence, allowing it to guide our interactions and inner peace.