Thursday, September 4
Philemon 8-16
8 For this reason, though I am more than bold enough in Christ to command you to do the right thing, 9 yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 10 I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 I wanted to keep him with me so that he might minister to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. 15 Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for the long term, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
“… 10 I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. …”
Tradition holds that Onesimus was one of Philemon’s slaves – perhaps even a runaway. Now he is with Paul, ministering to him in his old age. The circumstances of his appearance with the apostle are up for debate. What is clear is that Paul is asking Philemon to receive his former slave, not as a slave, but as a brother in Christ. It’s a big ask!
After all, as a slave Onesimus was owned by Philemon. Whatever his duties, the fact that he was no longer in Philemon’s household fulfilling his responsibilities but now flitting about with Paul likely caused distress and anguish. Add to that the likelihood that Onesimus “escaped” from Philemon, resulting in a loss of both money and help; and you can easily see the quandary. What would you do?
At the beginning of this proposal, Paul mentions that he could indeed command Philemon to take Onesimus back as a brother rather than a slave. However, he appeals instead to Philemon’s love and respect for Paul. It is that love which will enable Philemon to acquiesce to the apostle’s request. It is also that love which will inspire Philemon to receive Onesimus as Paul proposes.
While we cannot know the outcome of this story – the Scriptures are silent – we trust that the love Philemon holds for Paul, a love given through Jesus Christ, will enable and empower Philemon to receive his former slave as a new brother in Christ.
That same love is available to all of us as we look around our neighborhoods and communities at those who are outcast, marginalized, demonized, and oppressed. Perhaps, like Philemon, we can tap into the love given us by Jesus Christ and accept them as brothers and sisters.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you pour out Your love upon Your children. Open my heart to those in my community whom the world sees as outcasts, strangers, and lowly, that I may instead see them as Your children made in Your image, as my sisters and brothers. Amen.