The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate the prompting of the Spirit to use our gifts and the events of the day to raise awareness of the Kingdom among us and our mission within our community.
The reading from the Letter of Paul to Philemon is a plea for Onesimus.
Paul’s letter deals with an accepted institution of antiquity, human slavery. But Paul breathes into this letter the spirit of Christ and of equality within the Christian community. He does not attack slavery directly, for this is something the Christian communities of the first century were in no position to do, and the expectation that Christ would soon come again militated against social reforms. Yet Paul, by presenting Onesimus as “brother, beloved…to me, but even more so to you” (Phlm 16), voiced an idea revolutionary in that day and destined to break down worldly barriers of division “in the Lord.” (Philemon, THE LETTER TO PHILEMON, n.d.)
Psalm 146 offers praise for God’s Help.
* [Psalm 146] A hymn of someone who has learned there is no other source of strength except the merciful God. Only God, not mortal human beings (Ps 146:3–4), can help vulnerable and oppressed people (Ps 146:5–9). The first of the five hymns that conclude the Psalter. (Psalms, PSALM 146, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke describes the Coming of the Kingdom.
* [17:20–37] To the question of the Pharisees about the time of the coming of God’s kingdom, Jesus replies that the kingdom is among you (Lk 17:20–21). The emphasis has thus been shifted from an imminent observable coming of the kingdom to something that is already present in Jesus’ preaching and healing ministry. Luke has also appended further traditional sayings of Jesus about the unpredictable suddenness of the day of the Son of Man, and assures his readers that in spite of the delay of that day (Lk 12:45), it will bring judgment unexpectedly on those who do not continue to be vigilant.
* [17:21] Among you: the Greek preposition translated as among can also be translated as “within.” In the light of other statements in Luke’s gospel about the presence of the kingdom (see Lk 10:9, 11; 11:20) “among” is to be preferred. (Luke, CHAPTER 17, n.d.)
Nicky Santos, S.J. comments that we need a reminder about the Kingdom of God especially today when there is much to despair about. The ongoing war in Ukraine, polarization of politics and religion, climate change, racial and ethnic injustice, lack of civility, and much more can make us literally depressed and wonder where God is.
But if we shift our focus and become aware of the many people and organizations that work towards peace and reconciliation, that advocate for better stewardship of creation, that strive for racial and ethnic justice, that labor for a world that works for all, we suddenly realize that the kingdom of God is very much alive. In fact, each one of us in our little everyday actions of love, forgiveness, compassion, and mercy make the kingdom of God present. (Santos, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Don't pursue human glory,” by John Cassian (360-435 AD).
"If the devil has been driven out and sin no longer reigns, then the kingdom of God is established in us. As it is written in the Gospel, 'The kingdom of God does not come with observation, nor will they say, 'Lo here,' or 'Lo, there.' Truly I say to you that the kingdom of God is within you' (Luke 17:20-21). The only thing that can be 'within us' is knowledge or ignorance of the truth and the affection for righteousness or sin by which we prepare our hearts to be a kingdom of Christ or the devil. St. Paul described the nature of this kingdom in this way: 'For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit' (Romans 14:17). If the kingdom of God is within us and is righteousness, peace and joy, then someone that remains in these is surely within the kingdom of God. Someone that remains in unrighteousness, conflict and the melancholy that kills the life of the spirit is already a citizen of the devil's kingdom, of hell and of death. These are the signs whether it is God's kingdom or the devil's." (excerpt from CONFERENCE 1.13.5) (Schwager, n.d.)
[John Cassian was an early 5th century church father who lived for several years with the monks in Bethlehem and Egypt before founding a monastery in southern Gaul.]
The Word Among Us Meditation on Philemon 7-20 asks what does Paul teach us about offering advice and counsel?
First, look at the situation from a heavenly perspective. … Second, evaluate your advice in terms of its truthfulness. … Finally, is your advice laced with hope? … Is your advice based on fear or hope? If fear, take a deep breath and ask the Lord to show you that he is in control of the situation.
In the end, Paul recognizes that the outcome is in God’s hands. He has said his piece, and now it’s up to the Lord to guide his friends. You can do the same, confident that the Holy Spirit will bring about God’s perfect plan.
“Lord, teach me how to offer counsel and to trust you with the outcome.” (Meditation on Philemon 7-20, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler fleshes out the story of the relationship between Paul and Onemisus in the short letter to Phelemon. Wordplay and “Catholic guilt” are used by Paul in this appeal. Friar Jude reminds us of the message in Luke’s Gospel that the Kingdom is among us as we journey toward the Day of the Lord.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces author and spiritual teacher Mirabai Starr, who writes of the collective spiritual wisdom that is necessary for the healing of ourselves and our planet.
In a fit of iconoclasm, many of us have been tempted to toss out the traditions of organized religion as we try to make our own way home to Spirit. Many gifts have emerged from this revolution: liberation from patriarchal dominance, increased awareness of the importance of psychological health along the path of awakening, and an abiding regard for indigenous wisdom ways. But we have also found ourselves spiritually bankrupt in some crucial spheres. The world’s religious traditions have collected a series of vital tools to help us build a life that includes heightened consciousness of the sacred and a shared sense of accountability to all beings, and we would be foolish to reject them out of hand.
In spite of the undeniable history of abuses committed in the name of religion, the monotheistic faiths [Judaism, Christianity, and Islam] offer innumerable points of access to the realm of love. We would do well to revisit the teachings and practices so carefully engineered over millennia to invoke the God of Love and bring [God] into our midst. By saying yes to the best of our own heritage and entering the holiest grounds of one another’s faith traditions, we may be able to usher in an age of love within our own lifetime. We can only do this together. Through a process of perpetual discernment and “prayer unceasing” we may dive into the well of each faith and emerge with the treasure that connects us all. (Rohr, n.d.)
We are awakened by the Spirit to be aware of the mission of our journey and the resources in people and experiences that are provided for our help.
References
Luke, CHAPTER 17. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 10, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/17?20
Meditation on Philemon 7-20. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved November 10, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/11/10/530552/
Philemon, THE LETTER TO PHILEMON. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 10, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/philemon/1
Psalms, PSALM 146. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 10, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/146?7
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 10, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/our-collective-wisdom-2022-11-10/
Santos, N. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved November 10, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/111022.html
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture ... Retrieved November 10, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=nov10
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