Philemon; Luke 14:25-33
Have you ever imagined owning little? Having just enough to live but nothing extra, and being content with what you have? People who live in nursing homes are often like that.
Women and men who have taken religious vows live like that. In the early 1200s, one of the brothers asked Francis, “may I have a prayer book? I feel it would enhance my prayer life if I had one of my own.” Francis said “Absolutely not! When you own something, it prevents you from fully worshipping God. Instead you are focused on maintaining what you own. Where is it? Did I tear a page? Is that dirt on the cover?”
And we can understand
this today. But, Francis and the brothers lived in caves or monasteries. They
worked for food and not much else. As an order, they owned a few prayer books
that were stored in a public area of the monastery. No one person owned them,
they belonged to them all, or to none of them.
In contrast, those who live in the world with families and
businesses and responsibilities need to own some things. Even so, the question
remains. “Do you own your stuff, or does it own you?”
Is Jesus’ command what he really wants, or is this statement
hyperbole, exaggeration? I prefer to see it as a challenge, a check and
balance, to make sure I have my priorities right. One of those priorities is
the use of time. Do I spend enough time with Jesus/God? Do I give enough time
to caring for others?
… Paul’s understanding of Jesus’ command to give up all we own is applied differently in this letter to in this letter to Philemon. Onesimus is a slavewho apparently has not been worth what Philemon paid for him. In contrast, he has been very helpful to Paul. However, Paul knows he needs to send Onesimus back to his owner.
“I ask you,” Paul writes, “to grant Onesimus his freedom,
since he is now as much a believer in Jesus as you and I are. As we are brothers
in the faith, so, now, is he also a beloved sibling to me.”
This request is not just telling Onesimus that he is no
longer a slave. It also reduces Philemon’s financial and social worth. Philemon
can never get his money back, whatever he paid for Onesimus, so this is a
costly decision.
I just have to add this … the name Onesimus means useful, or
maybe handy. So the play on words here is fun. The man named Handy has not been
very useful (or handy!) to his owner, but has proved himself to be very useful,
or handy, to Paul.
This is one of the stories in Scripture that has no ending.
We have no way of knowing if Philemon gave Onesimus his freedom, or if he beat him
for disobedience. We hope that he will be influenced by Jesus and welcome
Onesimus as a free brother in Christ.
… These texts come to us on “God’s Work. Our Hands” Sunday. On this day, we remember that there are many people around and among us who are in need, in many ways.
Some are hungry. Council recently learned that 87% of the
children at Leesburg Elementary School receive public assistance, free lunch
etc. The congregational council approved supporting a program called Nourish to
Flourish, to give these children extra food each day or week. In addition to supporting
the Joining Hands food program, this program will take care of some very needy
children.
Some are abused. Our financial gifts and donations of time
as volunteers honors them with respect and protection.
Some are cold, or in need of basic hygiene supplies. The
quilts we create, the kits we assemble provide needed care for people we will
never know or see. Many of these things are headed for overseas, but they also end
up here in Florida or other states.
Some are dying. … Some of you know this, and some won’t have heard. Our beloved Alberta went to be with God Friday evening. Several hours before she died, I received a phone call about her care from MaryBeth Pullum, Alberta’s attorney. She was hoping some of Alberta’s friends could assist in her care by administering medication that the hospice caregivers were not permitted to give her. It was a legal matter for that particular class of medication. They would need to be there every 4 hours until Alberta’s son Samuel arrived late Saturday.
So I called some folks, and within an hour or so, a care
team was put together. Some of them would need to visit Alberta in the middle
of the night, an extra gift. I give thanks to Pat, Rita, Andy, and Sharon. I
know a couple others would have been involved but they are out of town. … This
is one of the aspects of this congregation that impresses me. When someone is
in need, you-all work together to take care of that need.
… All these ways of helping others are examples of God’s work through our hands. We don’t have to give up everything we own in order to put God first, but we do have to make a commitment to being Jesus’ hands in this world. I hope you consider these questions this week. Do you own your stuff, or does it own you? How do you put God first? How do your hands serve those God puts in your path? Amen
