May the Lord give you grace, peace and health in the Holy Spirit. It is on 10th November 2022. We celebrate the memorial of St Leo the Great, the Pope who taught the two natures of Christ – human and divine and the primacy of Peter. He defended the unity of the Church and preserved the integrity of faith through his papacy. We reflect on Philemon 7-20 and Luke 17:20-25.
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle,” says Plato
How do we feel the Kingdom of God amidst us?
A wealthy man ran up to Francis of Assisi and said, “that man stole my boots.” Francis responded, “Quick, run after him and give him a pair of socks too.”
St. Paul attempted to show proof of the presence of the Kingdom of God by helping Onesimus to find freedom from the slavery he was in. Just 24 verses of a personal note to Philemon and the members of the community of Colossae. Directing Philemon to treat his former slave Onesimus which means ‘useful,’ as a Christian brother. Without forcing, but pleading and cajoling Philemon of his free will to handle Onesimus with tenderness and mercy.
Even though St. Paul did not address the institution of slavery, he helped a slave to be out of slavery through charity.
We may not eradicate poverty through our efforts but by providing everything within our means and reach we will have enough tremors at the roots of prevalent poverty.
Forcing us to believe and love is the worst thing we can do to someone. It is like burying someone alive while they live.
We are all in a hurry to feel and experience the Kingdom of God amidst us without even knowing is already among us. The presence of Jesus in us, in the believing community within our reach through the acts of love we show to the other. We make this spiritual reality possible in the hearts of people through the way we treat the other person.
“For the kingdom of God does not mean food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 14:17).
May we become the instruments of hope, love, and charity to make the Kingdom of God felt among us.