Reshaping Lives with Love
Scripture: Philemon 1: 1-25
INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE
Philemon 1: 1-25
We never read a whole book of the Bible in worship, nor one that is a letter like this missive from Paul, but we will today. Unlike most of his letters this one is written to one man, although he is asked to share it with the church that meets in his home. The people of the church then become a witness to how he responds to Paul’s request. What was Paul’s request: To accept his slave as a brother. Ultimately the letter is about the change in our relationships that happens because Christ is now our master.
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.
For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, 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. I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, 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. So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. One thing more—prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
SERMON
At this point in his ministry Paul is seems fairly confident of his authority as an apostle of Christ. In many letters he must defend his postion against critiques, but not in this letter. Thus he could command Philemon to do what is right but he chooses to appeal to him through their relationship in Christ. “For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love.” (v.8).
Onesimus (a’nā sēmus) name means “profitable” or “useful.” As a run away slave he has hardly been profitable or useful for Philemon but for Paul he has been more than just useful Onesimus has become like a son to Paul serving him during his imprisonment. Roman jails were brutal. Most prisoners had to provide even their own food from outside sources. Paul would have relied on outside aid for not only the basics for survival but also the paper and ink to write to Philemon. Onesimus may have provided supplies for Paul, but the deep bond between them had to have come from more than just being servicable. Of course we know that bond, because we share its source. Jesus the Christ binds us together in not only in our care of one another but most of all our love of one another.
New Testament Professor Holly Hearon writes that “The letter to Philemon challenges us to discern, in and for Christ, what is the right thing to do. It would be easy if doing the right thing was, for example, taking out the garbage, or helping an elderly person cross the street. It is another when the right thing involves a radical transformation of social relationships: of learning to see people that time and experience have led us to view one way in a completely new way. It is another thing when this radical transformation of social relationships asks us to give up what we have come to view as our rights: to willingly let go of privilege. It is another thing when this letting go of privilege leads us to assume a relationship of kinship—of obligation—with those whom we have formerly viewed with suspicion because we now recognize that we are bound together in Christ.”
What would change in your life, if you saw everyone through the eyes of Christ. On August 24 The Coalition of Immokalee Workers forged a fair food agreement with food service provider Sodexo! Sodexo services a number of Presbyterian-affiliated colleges which is why we have taken particular notice. It is the ninth food retailer to sign an agreement with the coaliton. In celebration of this event our denomination has provided a beautiful communion prayer which Judy Brett will read in Spanish and I will read the translation.
Take two tomatoes. By looking at them, can you tell which was picked from a local grower or which was picked in slave labor? No. But everything that comes to our table or into our lives. Has been on a journey to reach us. Paul wanted more for Onesimus (a’nā sēmus) than to hide out from Philemon’s rage. He wanted Philemon to change. We don’t know the end of this story. Was Philemon’s heart truly bonded to Paul and Onesimus through Christ Jesus? What we do know is that about fifty years after Paul wrote this letter, Ignatius, the bishop of Antioch, was being taken across Asia to Rome to suffer martyrdom there. From Smyrna he wrote a letter to the Ephesian church, in the opening chapters of which he has much to say about their bishop Onesimus. We cannot be sure that Onesimus, bishop of Ephesus was the slave of Philemon but it is not impossible. Perhaps Philemon did send him back to Paul again, as Paul so much wished he would do; that Onesimus lived to become a Christian leader in his own country, Asia, and was the bishop of Ephesus when Ignatius passed through that region.
Last week we considered how some have entertained angels unaware out of their generosity. Today may we recall that even the least of these may one day be great because we worked for their freedom. May we be open to the love of Christ to reshape our thinking, our very hearts into bread for the whole world. It could not have been easy for Philemon to release his slave, nor was it easy for Paul to ask. But in the making of the bread, the wheat is ground and then pounded together with other ingredients that change its very nature, and if that is not hard enough, it is then put into the oven to bake.
God’s loving hands are working on each of us and all of us as the church of Christ to feed and free the world. I would like to share with you a prayer from a collection of prayers that speak to that reshaping of our lives in the love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Closing prayer: Guard your church, O God
Guard your church, O God from pity that precludes partnership; from heroics that disintegrate democracy; from procedure that prolongs injustice. Guard your church, O God. Awaken us in mercy, strengthen us in crucifixion, forge us in resurrection that we may give though it make us insecure; that we may depend, though it offend our pride; that we may challenge, though it cost our reputation; that we may hope, though it seems unreasonable; that we may love, though scorn feels righteous; that we may build, though tearing down be expedient; that we may speak, though silence would be safer, that we may venture, though we may not see the end. Guard your church, O God. In the strong name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Resources:
www.christadelphianbooks.org/agora
Commentary published by Luther Seminary, see: working preacher.org. Professor Holly Hearon Christian Theological Seminary Indianapolis, IN
Story adapted from: www.earlychristianwritings.com/goodspeed/ch09.html.
An Introduction to the New Testament By Edgar J. Goodspeed, University of Chicago Press , Chicago: Illinois. 1937.
Excerpted from Prayers for a New Social Awakening, ed. Christian Iosso and Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty, Westminster John Knox Press, 2008. To see other prayers and to order the book visit www.wjkp.org .
To learn about how the PC(USA) is working with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to advance human rights for farmworkers and corporate social responsibility visit PC(USA) Campaign for Fair Food www.pcusa.org/fairfood .
Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ September 5, 2010
Labor Day Sunday
INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE
Philemon 1: 1-25
We never read a whole book of the Bible in worship, nor one that is a letter like this missive from Paul, but we will today. Unlike most of his letters this one is written to one man, although he is asked to share it with the church that meets in his home. The people of the church then become a witness to how he responds to Paul’s request. What was Paul’s request: To accept his slave as a brother. Ultimately the letter is about the change in our relationships that happens because Christ is now our master.
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.
For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, 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. I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, 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. So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. One thing more—prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
SERMON
At this point in his ministry Paul is seems fairly confident of his authority as an apostle of Christ. In many letters he must defend his postion against critiques, but not in this letter. Thus he could command Philemon to do what is right but he chooses to appeal to him through their relationship in Christ. “For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love.” (v.8).
Onesimus (a’nā sēmus) name means “profitable” or “useful.” As a run away slave he has hardly been profitable or useful for Philemon but for Paul he has been more than just useful Onesimus has become like a son to Paul serving him during his imprisonment. Roman jails were brutal. Most prisoners had to provide even their own food from outside sources. Paul would have relied on outside aid for not only the basics for survival but also the paper and ink to write to Philemon. Onesimus may have provided supplies for Paul, but the deep bond between them had to have come from more than just being servicable. Of course we know that bond, because we share its source. Jesus the Christ binds us together in not only in our care of one another but most of all our love of one another.
New Testament Professor Holly Hearon writes that “The letter to Philemon challenges us to discern, in and for Christ, what is the right thing to do. It would be easy if doing the right thing was, for example, taking out the garbage, or helping an elderly person cross the street. It is another when the right thing involves a radical transformation of social relationships: of learning to see people that time and experience have led us to view one way in a completely new way. It is another thing when this radical transformation of social relationships asks us to give up what we have come to view as our rights: to willingly let go of privilege. It is another thing when this letting go of privilege leads us to assume a relationship of kinship—of obligation—with those whom we have formerly viewed with suspicion because we now recognize that we are bound together in Christ.”
What would change in your life, if you saw everyone through the eyes of Christ. On August 24 The Coalition of Immokalee Workers forged a fair food agreement with food service provider Sodexo! Sodexo services a number of Presbyterian-affiliated colleges which is why we have taken particular notice. It is the ninth food retailer to sign an agreement with the coaliton. In celebration of this event our denomination has provided a beautiful communion prayer which Judy Brett will read in Spanish and I will read the translation.
Take two tomatoes. By looking at them, can you tell which was picked from a local grower or which was picked in slave labor? No. But everything that comes to our table or into our lives. Has been on a journey to reach us. Paul wanted more for Onesimus (a’nā sēmus) than to hide out from Philemon’s rage. He wanted Philemon to change. We don’t know the end of this story. Was Philemon’s heart truly bonded to Paul and Onesimus through Christ Jesus? What we do know is that about fifty years after Paul wrote this letter, Ignatius, the bishop of Antioch, was being taken across Asia to Rome to suffer martyrdom there. From Smyrna he wrote a letter to the Ephesian church, in the opening chapters of which he has much to say about their bishop Onesimus. We cannot be sure that Onesimus, bishop of Ephesus was the slave of Philemon but it is not impossible. Perhaps Philemon did send him back to Paul again, as Paul so much wished he would do; that Onesimus lived to become a Christian leader in his own country, Asia, and was the bishop of Ephesus when Ignatius passed through that region.
Last week we considered how some have entertained angels unaware out of their generosity. Today may we recall that even the least of these may one day be great because we worked for their freedom. May we be open to the love of Christ to reshape our thinking, our very hearts into bread for the whole world. It could not have been easy for Philemon to release his slave, nor was it easy for Paul to ask. But in the making of the bread, the wheat is ground and then pounded together with other ingredients that change its very nature, and if that is not hard enough, it is then put into the oven to bake.
God’s loving hands are working on each of us and all of us as the church of Christ to feed and free the world. I would like to share with you a prayer from a collection of prayers that speak to that reshaping of our lives in the love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Closing prayer: Guard your church, O God
Guard your church, O God from pity that precludes partnership; from heroics that disintegrate democracy; from procedure that prolongs injustice. Guard your church, O God. Awaken us in mercy, strengthen us in crucifixion, forge us in resurrection that we may give though it make us insecure; that we may depend, though it offend our pride; that we may challenge, though it cost our reputation; that we may hope, though it seems unreasonable; that we may love, though scorn feels righteous; that we may build, though tearing down be expedient; that we may speak, though silence would be safer, that we may venture, though we may not see the end. Guard your church, O God. In the strong name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Resources:
www.christadelphianbooks.org/agora
Commentary published by Luther Seminary, see: working preacher.org. Professor Holly Hearon Christian Theological Seminary Indianapolis, IN
Story adapted from: www.earlychristianwritings.com/goodspeed/ch09.html.
An Introduction to the New Testament By Edgar J. Goodspeed, University of Chicago Press , Chicago: Illinois. 1937.
Excerpted from Prayers for a New Social Awakening, ed. Christian Iosso and Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty, Westminster John Knox Press, 2008. To see other prayers and to order the book visit www.wjkp.org .
To learn about how the PC(USA) is working with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to advance human rights for farmworkers and corporate social responsibility visit PC(USA) Campaign for Fair Food www.pcusa.org/fairfood .
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