Daily Readings - Thu Nov 12 2020

⁷Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.⁸Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do,⁹yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul--an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus--¹⁰I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.¹¹Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.¹²I am sending him--who is my very heart--back to you.¹³I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.¹⁴But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.¹⁵Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good--¹⁶no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.¹⁷So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.¹⁸If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.¹⁹I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back--not to mention that you owe me your very self.²⁰I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

Luke

Chapter 17

²⁰Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation,²¹nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."²²Then he said to his disciples, "The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.²³Men will tell you, 'There he is!' or 'Here he is!' Do not go running off after them.²⁴For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.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.