Visions
Philimon: The End of Slavery
Philemon's run away slave, Onesimus,
whose name meant profitable,
had been converted to the faith
by Paul, The Apostle,
he was being sent back to him.
Onesimus, had been like a son
to Paul, aiding him in his captivity.
Running away was a crime
punishable by death.
But having become a Christian,
Paul commended Philemon
by the mercies of Christ,
to receive him as a brother
and treat him as such,
embracing him in Christian love.
Such a radical approach,
relative to the times!
Yet think of how simple
things could have been
if people had just followed
this leading of our Lord.
All the human misery,
all the long struggles,
military and political,
all the people
dying from physical abuse,
heartbroken by having
their families split up,
their children taken
away from them.
I hear their voices
crying out in agony,
longing to be free!
Thank you, Jesus,
for freeing the slaves
in Europe and America!
whose name meant profitable,
had been converted to the faith
by Paul, The Apostle,
he was being sent back to him.
Onesimus, had been like a son
to Paul, aiding him in his captivity.
Running away was a crime
punishable by death.
But having become a Christian,
Paul commended Philemon
by the mercies of Christ,
to receive him as a brother
and treat him as such,
embracing him in Christian love.
Such a radical approach,
relative to the times!
Yet think of how simple
things could have been
if people had just followed
this leading of our Lord.
All the human misery,
all the long struggles,
military and political,
all the people
dying from physical abuse,
heartbroken by having
their families split up,
their children taken
away from them.
I hear their voices
crying out in agony,
longing to be free!
Thank you, Jesus,
for freeing the slaves
in Europe and America!
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Philimon: The End of Slavery
Philimon: The End of Slavery
