Daily Readings - Thu Nov 14 2024

Philemon

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

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 relationships, forgiveness, and the presence of God. The letter to Philemon, one of Paul’s most personal and shortest epistles, tells the story of Onesimus, a slave who found faith and became a brother in Christ. Paul appeals to Philemon to welcome Onesimus back, not as a servant, but as a beloved brother, emphasizing the transformative power of faith. This letter highlights the early Christian community's emphasis on unity and reconciliation, urging Philemon to act with compassion and grace. The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus discussing the Kingdom of God, which He describes as already present among us. Jesus warns against chasing after signs or false claims of the Kingdom’s arrival, likening it to lightning that illuminates the entire sky. This teaching invites us to recognize God’s presence in our midst, not in grand gestures but in the quiet, everyday moments. The Kingdom is within us, a reality that transforms our hearts and minds. Together, these readings remind us that our faith is lived out in our relationships and in our inner lives. Like Philemon, we are called to forgive and see the divine in others, treating them with the same love we would offer to Christ. From the Gospel, we learn to cultivate an inner awareness of God’s presence, recognizing that the Kingdom is already here, shaping how we live and interact with the world. May we embrace this transformative power, allowing it to guide us in our daily lives and relationships, and may we always seek to see God’s presence within and around us.