Thursday, 11/15/12
The first reading today is a personal note that Paul wrote
to Philemon, a landowner at Collossae. Philemon was indebted to Paul because he
had received the Faith from him. Now, Paul asks for a return favor. It was
concerned with a man named Onesimus who had been a slave of Philemon. .
Onesimus had fled from Philemon, carrying off some of his
property. After making his way to Rome, Onesimus, stumbled about searching for
shelter; and he happened to slip into the dwelling where Paul was undergoing
house arrest. He put himself into Paul’s service, and went on to become an
eager Christian
An interesting aspect of the story deals with the way everyone’s
accepted slavery. They knew that it was sinful, and they knew that persons
created in God’s image should not be made into the property of other persons;
but they didn’t see the use of objecting to established law. (Like they say, “When in Rome
do as the Romans do.”) Does Paul’s passive acceptance of slavery give us any
direction for dealing with laws we feel are wrong?
Paul and Onesimus set themselves to abide by those immoral laws
of Rome which condoned human
slavery. In accordance with them, Paul was sending his dear servant back into
slavery. Onesimus was committing himself to a fate that might include a
punishment such as maiming.
Putting that discussion aside, there is another aspect of
Paul’s letter that is worth noting. It is the amount of love in it. Paul’s love
for Onesimus makes their parting painful to him. His love for Philemon gives
him hope. Luke and Mark, Demas and Archelaus, who were with Paul in Rome wanted
to assure Philemon of their warm affection for him.
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