THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Thursday of 32^nd week in Ordinary time, 2022

Phlm v7-20

Ps 146

Luke 17:20-25

St Leo the Great, Pope & Doctor

No longer a slave

Dear friends in Christ, the very idea of slavery is today repulsive to the modern mind. However, there is slavery going on in the world on a commercial scale in various forms. Human trafficking, child labor, forced prostitution, trafficking for human organs, and so on. It is our duty as Christians to treat people with love and care no matter their status. Today is the memorial of St Leo the Great, a true shepherd of souls who defended the faith and prevented the massacre of the populace by Vandals.

Today’s first reading (Philemon vv7-20) is from the letter of Paul to Philemon. It contains twenty-five verses, and it is the only one written by Paul on an individual, that survived into the collection of the New Testament. This letter to Philemon was to address the condition of a run-away slave Onesimus, who had found his way to Paul in Rome and had become a Christian. Paul appeals to Philemon on love, to accept Onesimus back; but he says he would have loved to have Onesimus, as he has been useful to him in his chains, which he wears for the sake of Christ. Hear Paul, “I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. I would have been glad to keep him with me so that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel…”

Philemon lived in Colossae in Asia Minor. He was wealthy enough to own slaves. That was the way many of the rich people of the time ran their businesses. A slave, however, was considered a non-person, a slave was simply the property of the owner. For very few offenses, slaves were brutally punished or even disposed of. Many were put to death for disobedience. To run away from the owner, often carries the death sentence, to prevent others from doing the same.

The story has it that Onesimus eventually returned to Paul and later in life became the Bishop of Ephesus, and he was largely responsible for the collection of the letters of Paul, which may account for why and how this letter became a part of the collection. Paul’s appeal that Onesimus be treated not just as a slave, but as a brother, is very important in our relationship with those who work with us and for us. The full implications may not have been felt until the letter became public because it would have been unthinkable at the time, to make such a demand of slave owners. We cannot afford to make slaves of others today. We need people to work with us and for us, but their human dignity must be respected. The house helps, drivers, cleaners, junior staff, and so on are human beings and we have to treat every one of them with dignity. Imagine he is your son or daughter, will you still treat him or her that way?

Let us pray: O God, in Christ you have set us free, making us brothers and sisters. Help us to treat each person as we will treat you. Amen. 

+Remain blessed