Thursday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
It is a rare occurrence for me to get out to see a movie, but my husband and I recently saw the movie “Cloud Atlas” based on the book. I won’t give a review of it, but one part of the movie comes to mind as I reflect on the first reading today. The scenario involves a stowaway slave on a ship in the 1800s who relies on the at-first-reluctant- kindness of one of the passengers, an American businessman, to save him from either starving or being cast overboard. Later, the slave ends up saving the life of the American who is being poisoned by the greedy doctor who he thinks is trying to heal him. He eventually ends up denouncing slavery. It was quite beautiful to see the change of heart and relationship in this thread of the movie.
Today’s first reading (Philemon 7-20) is probably one of the least familiar New Testament Letters. Paul’s letter to Philemon is very short, just 25 verses, but rather powerful in its message. Paul is writing to Philemon, a slave owner, about his slave, Onesimus, who ran away and ended up in prison with Paul. Onesimus became a Christian, apparently while in prison with Paul who says he has become his “child,” and Paul, his father. Paul is now sending Onesimus back to Philemon as the law requires, but is sending this letter not only asking for Onesimus’ freedom but even challenging Philemon to think differently about his relationship with his slave and to, instead, accept him as a brother in Christ. Paul, rather persuasively, even refers to sending Onesimus as if he is sending “my own heart” back to them, and offers to take on any debt of Onesimus’ as his own. He truly is treating Onesimus as if he is his son.
Similar to the movie, Paul’s letter challenges the social structures of his time and challenges us to go beyond current cultural boundaries that prevent us from treating each other as equals in Christ. Recall Paul’s letter to the Galatians that includes his revolutionary statement on Christian freedom, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” How does this challenge our thinking today? Slavery has been abolished and the civil rights movement had some success, but are we truly living as if we believe that all are “one in Christ Jesus?” What does this mean for us as a Church? What does this mean for us as Americans? What does this mean for us as individuals and the choices we make and the relationships we have?
With today’s gospel reading (Luke 17: 20-25) in Jesus’ words, “the Kingdom of God is among you,” the emphasis has shifted from an imminent, observable coming of God’s kingdom to something that is already present in Jesus’ preaching and healing ministry. Just as Paul continued to bring about the Kingdom of God in Jesus’ name through his life, we are called to do the same, treating each other as “our own heart.”
Let us especially pray and reflect on how we are being called this week to bring about true equality in Christ Jesus. And may we trust in God’s Spirit to go beyond the boundaries that prevent such equality.
-Eileen Miller