Offered, Not Imposed

A Reflection on the Second Reading for September 8th, 2019:
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

​Philemon 9-10, 12-17
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Beloved: I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.

I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the Gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced.

Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother — especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.

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​When someone you love and respect asks something of you, will you be able to refuse? I know I would not be able to and I think that Philemon, out of great love and respect for Paul, would not be able to refuse either, especially since it was an appeal by Paul, requested with great humility, and not a command.
 
This reading made me realize that God in His wisdom, power, and glory has taken me, a sinner, and loved me and taught me in His ways. In the same way, Paul took Onesimus who ran away from Philemon and taught him about God to the degree that he would be of great help to himself and to Philemon, one of Paul’s main leaders in the community. Just as God accepts me in my sinfulness and out of love guides me, so did Paul accept Onesimus, once a slave who committed the grave sin of running away from his master. Paul became a father to him, loving him as his own. 
 
Paul respected Philemon and did not impose on him, preferring to get Philemon’s consent to allow Onesimus to help in the ministry. He showed his respect for Philemon as a person, as his leader, and as the former owner of Onesimus. In giving us free will, God shows us the way but the decision to follow Him and act in His ways is entirely ours, not His. God does not impose.

"In giving us free will, God shows us the way but the decision to follow Him and act in His ways is entirely ours, not His. God does not impose."

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I remember many times when I have surrendered the decision-making to God. I said, “it is up to you Lord. Thy will be done.” However, I did not really make a decision to bring about the Lord’s will. God loves us and wants us to be happy and joyful. I always pray that I remain positive and joyful so that I can give glory to God. However, when I choose not to forgive someone who has wronged me, these feelings fester and as a result, I am not joyful. I become bitter, biased, and negative about that person. How can I give God the glory when I am in that state?  
 
I marvel at how some people can always remain positive in their daily outlook. Nothing seems to faze them, they always give others the benefit of the doubt. I am a work in progress and daily I ask God to help me maintain a positive attitude. When caught unaware, I sometimes slip into that negative state again. Starting this month, a group of friends and I have agreed that nothing negative will come out of our mouths. As I attempt to honour this pact, I will try to remember my gratitude for God’s blessings, and that I really want to give Him the glory. I stand by that decision and I ask God to help me remember that it is not about me, but about Him.


Liz Venezuela

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