Thursday in the Thirty-Second Week of Ordinary Time

“If you regard me as a partner, welcome [Onesimus] as you would me” (Phil. 17). Having been grafted to Christ, we are all one in Christ. The bond of love that draws us together is stronger than any force in the world. It is Christ’s heartfelt prayer that we be one in him as he is one with the Father. Unity of mind and heart are not optional. We need to learn how to work together and to bridge the gaps that keep us apart. Having been embraced by Christ, let us welcome each other as we would Christ.

The main character in today’s first reading, Onesimus, Philemon’s slave. For some unknown reason, he decided to run away from his master’s service. The name Onesimus means “profitable” or “useful.” When Onesimus took to his heels, he was useless to Philemon. The runaway slave made his way to the apostle in chains who showed him the way to freedom in Christ. Through baptism into Christ, he who had been an unprofitable servant to his master became a useful comrade to Paul. Through the power of the gospel, the prisoner is unchained and the slave is set free. Both embrace each other as children of God and heirs of the Kingdom. God, the creator of the universe became a lowly servant in search of us, his unprofitable servants. By the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, God gave us a second chance. Let us allow him to make us who were useless useful. May he regard us as his partners in the work of building up the kingdom of his Father.