Views from the Pews – Emancipendence Sunday – August 3, 2025

My Dear Brothers & Sisters,

In today’s reading from the  Book of Philemon, Philemon demonstrates how God’s love can heal wounds and bring forgiveness, so we can be reconciled to one another.

While forgiving others is one of the most difficult things to do, Jesus taught us to forgive in the Lord’s Prayer:  “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”  (Matthew 6:12).  Forgiveness of others is an impossible task unless we realize we forgive because we have been forgiven.

God  forgave our lifetime of debts.  Even though  we could never begin to repay him, he has given us notice – the debt has been paid.  You can throw that growing pile of spiritual invoices away without fear of their going to a collection agency.  You are completely forgiven –  not partially.  It’s not that God has given you a grace period in which to pay them or paid a down payment, leaving you with a lower monthly payment.  No!  It is completely paid off.  There is a big red stamp across your life that reads PAID IN FULL.

The apostle Paul’s letter to his brother and colleague Philemon is all about the joy of forgiveness and reconciliation.  In this letter, we are introduced to two committed believers; Philemon, an apparently prosperous member of the Church at Colossae, who became a Christian through the ministry of Paul; and Onesimus, a runaway slave of Philemon’s who also became a Christian through Paul’s influence.

Sadly, in the ancient Roman Empire, slavery was an accepted social reality, and so in running away from Philemon, Onesimus committed a wrong that could have unleashed significant punishment from his master.  Paul’s letter is an appeal to Philemon to forgive Onesimus and to receive him back, not as a slave, but as a brother in Christ.

As we read Paul’s heartfelt appeal for “my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains” (v 10), we can sense the very reflection of God’s love for each of us, a love so great he gave his only Son to purchase our forgiveness and reconciliation with himself.  This poignant book reinforces the need for each of us not only to receive the unmerited grace God pours over us through his Son, but to ask God to work in our hearts so we can likewise forgive and reconcile ourselves with others.

Contributed!