32nd Week of Ordinary Time, Thursday, 11-14-24, Year B
Readings: 1st Reading: Phlm 7-20; Psalm 146:7-10; Gospel Lk 17:20-25
Theme: To Suffer for the Forgiveness of Others
A young slave, looking for a way out from his slavery, grabbed a few things of his master’s and fled on foot. He cautiously walked with hurried feet, constantly looking over his shoulder while clutching the few items that would sustain him on his journey. He made his way through the dusty streets and market corners full of people to the outer wall of the city. Looking around to be sure he was alone, he escaped through a small opening in the wall and into the open landscape of scrub trees, brush, and rocks. With the evening sun fading fast, he began to make his way along the rocky path toward Rome.
This could have been one of the many ways that Onesimus made his way to Rome as a runaway slave. Most likely what he had with him wasn’t enough to survive in the big city and he soon found himself in need. Luckily for him, he probably knew about Paul since his master Philemon often spoke of him and saw him regularly since they were good friends. Immediately upon finding Paul, Paul took him in and the conversion of Onesimus began.
Paul sacrificed himself, even putting his life on the line by taking in a known run-away slave and a possible thief. He worked with Onesimus, taught him about Jesus, and showed him the righteous way of living. In a word, Paul saved Onesimus from a life of destruction, by forgiving him, helping him to repent and taking ownership of his actions while strengthening him in Christ Jesus. After some time, Onesimus was ready to return to his Master, no longer a slave, but a brother in Christ. He finally got the freedom he was looking for, not of his own accord, but rather through the suffering of Paul who showed him forgiveness through Jesus’s suffering, death, and resurrection.
In a way, we can relate to this story with today’s Gospel story where suffering by one forgives another. Paul is like Jesus, Onesimus is like you and me, and the Master, Philemon, is like God. We all have sinned while trying to escape the will of God, our Master. We run after our own desires and goals only to find ourselves destitute in spirit and looking for a friend. We have heard of Jesus from others, so we seek Him out to help us. In Jesus we find forgiveness and healing. He teaches us the righteous way to live and prays on our behalf to God the master to take us back, not as lowly sinners, but as adopted sons and daughters to an inheritance and life with Him in freedom and love forever.
Paul suffered and gave his life for the Gospel and people like Onesimus, so that they could return as changed people to their master (God). Paul knew that through the death and resurrection of Jesus, all who came to believe and live by His example, would be saved.
We can learn from Paul and imitate his life so that when we suffer, we suffer for the forgiveness of others, paying their debt to God, and opening the door for them to enter into a relationship with Him. Never think your suffering is for nothing, for when it is joined to Christ, it is redemptive.
Saint James Catholic Church 