The Fifthteenth Sunday
after Pentecost, Proper 18C, September 9, 2007
Paul and Timothy's
Letter to Philemon
The Rev. Robert B.
Wood, St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, Alpharetta, Georgia
Today, we have
read all but five verses of the shortest letter in the New Testament,
Paul and Timothy’s letter to Philemon. I wonder why so short and
simple a letter would have made it into the New Testament. Could it
have the depth and power of other letters, like Romans or
Philippians? Could any letter only 25 verses long even begin to teach
things about Jesus and the life of faith?
As I wondered
these things, my imagination began to paint in some new parts to the
larger story of which this letter is only a part. What was going on
with Philemon and his slave, Onesimus? What was slavery like during
this time? And of the letter itself, what a postscript: Paul sends
greetings from his fellow workers, notably Mark, Timothy, and Luke!
What would it have been like to be a fly on the wall in a room with
those early church leaders! Yes, indeed, what was it like…?
Act I, Scene I
The curtain goes
up revealing a small, dark room. One lone figure is collecting odds
and ends, putting them into a sack. His name is Onesimus. He lives
in the Mediterranean town of Colossae as a slave in the house of
Philemon. He sold himself into a ten-year term of slavery in order to
get out of debtor’s prison. But he can no longer live this way. He
wants to be his own master, so he is running away. As he passes
through the door, he turns to look once more around the cozy room. He
then double-checks he belt for the map that will guide him to
Ephesus. It's there. He takes a breath, turns, and disappears from
view.
Act I, Scene II
The sun rises on a
new day. Philemon wakes and begins to get ready for his work. But
something is different. The water has not been drawn. The fires in
the kitchen and workshop are cold. He calls out "Onesimus!" No
answer. He walks out the door, looks down the road toward the well;
nothing. He circles the house and looks again into the shop where he
and Onesimus have made horseshoes together for five years. Nobody.
Then in his gut, he knows Onesimus is gone. Philemon sits down on a
stool and gives an exasperated sigh: How will he cope? There was
already too much work for two people. Why was this happening to him?
and today of all days? Frustration turns to anger as he smashes an
empty cistern.
Act I, Scene
III
Two days later.
Onesimus has arrived in Ephesus, a major port- city on the
Mediterranean, about 90 miles from Colassae. He stops some passersby
to ask for directions, and eventually he ends up at a small house with
a Roman soldier guarding the front door. This must be it, the place
where Paul is under house arrest. After he is checked for weapons, he
is allowed to enter. He finds Paul talking to some other men.
Onesimus
introduces himself: "Hello. I am not sure if you remember me. I met
you during your travels and preaching with the Colossians. You will
remember Philemon, Apphia, and Archippus in whose house you offered
prayers and broke bread. I myself met you there and heard your
stories about Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, and have now
come seeking your guidance and help."
Paul says,
"Welcome. What news from our brothers and sisters in Colossae?"
Onesimus looks down and away, then slowly back up to Paul. "None,
except a report that they are well." Onesimus pauses again; his face
is turning red. Paul looks puzzled and gestures Onesimus to sit down,
hoping he would share more. "I have not come to bring their news,"
Onesimus says, "only my own. I have freed myself from service to
Philemon. I can no longer bear to be his slave. There is more to
life than that. Your teachings in Colossae were about new life and
freedom, so I have come first to you to seek your help and wisdom so
that I may know how to live my life that is my own again."
Paul looks
intently at Onesimus, then looks down at his feet and over to his
friends Timothy, Mark, Demas, and Luke. He looks back to Onesimus
with neither smile nor frown. "I thank you for your honesty. It is
good that you are here. Spend some days with us, and God will lead us
to guide you, just as he guided you here."
Act II, Scene I
Two weeks later.
The curtain rises on Luke,
Mark, Timothy, and Paul who are sitting in the main room of Paul’s
house. It’s late morning. They are having one of those serious talks
that Mark always started, but all of a sudden, the conversation
stops. From the way Mark is looking at Paul, we know they disagree
about something.
After few moments,
Paul breaks the silence: “Mark, remember I told him the decision is
his. This is his life, his freedom. We have all talked to Onesimus
about it again and again. Here I sit, confined to this house, a
prisoner because of my faith in Jesus Christ. Just because we
believe and know we have freedom in Christ does not mean we don’t
suffer. Christ suffered. I have suffered. We all suffer and have a
cross to bear. Onesimus suffers with a burden even now. Yes, with us
he has come to believe the good news, been baptized and made a child
of God. The good that was ours in Christ is now his as well. But he
still suffers, in part because he knows he has sinned against
Philemon, who is his earthly master, and now more—his brother in
Christ.”
[As Paul speaks, Onesimus returns to
the house from his errands. He hears the conversation as he
approaches, and decides to wait outside the house and eavesdrop
through the window.]
Mark replies to Paul, “My friend,
that’s my point. Philemon is now his brother. How and why should he
be master too? I say we write to Philemon, tell him of Onesimus’
baptism and new life, and, knowing Philemon and the church in Colossae,
they will not require his return to servitude.”
“The question is
really this,” Luke chimes in. “We must think and pray first about
what God, faith, and love require, not what Philemon, Apphia, and the
others require. When Jesus spoke about love and greatness, he said,
‘The greatest among you is the one who serves.’ I say we make
Onesimus return to Colossae, ask forgiveness of Philemon, and serve
him as he promised to do five years ago. Philemon will see his faith
and, I believe, be able to apply his own faith to this real life
situation and forgive Onesimus even has he himself has been forgiven.”
“Yes, Luke,” says
Paul. “You speak convincingly—except for one thing. We cannot make
Onesimus return to Colossae any more than we can make Philemon forgive
him. If God has indeed made their hearts new—if the love of Christ
has changed them and they see themselves as servants of Christ—they
will be compelled to act as brothers and servants to one another. For
love’s sake we will appeal to both of them to treat one another first
according to their new relationship in Christ—as brothers.”
Timothy chimes in
and says, “My friends, this whole situation might be a test—to see if
we and they can do what we are always talking about. Paul, I
will help you write a letter to Philemon and to Apphia, Archippus, and
the church in Colossae. Their love and faith are strong, as I saw on
my last visit with them. We will send the letter, and….”
“And I will take
the letter,” says Onesimus walking into the room. “My brothers, you
know I have struggled with this very thing since my arrival with
you. This very morning I struggled and prayed about it on my
errands. As I returned, I heard you talking about it, and have been
listening outside the window. Forgive me for eavesdropping, but your
words are the wise words I needed to hear. In my heart, I already
knew what I should do, and, having heard you, I know now in my heart
and head what God would have me do. I must return, ask forgiveness of
Philemon, and hope he and the people of Colossae will forgive me.
Paul, you have taught me to hope and taught me about the love of
Christ. I must put myself in His hands, and if that means suffering,
so be it. Here you sit a prisoner for your faith. I am ready to do
the same, as slave again, or even as prisoner—but always as brother to
you and to Philemon.”
Everyone is still
for a moment. A warmth has come over all their faces. Timothy gets a
parchment and a quill. Luke and Mark embrace Onesimus, and Paul comes
to Onesimus, and says: “My son, you refresh my heart in Christ. Your
young faith is strong. Let it be constant, and let us all pray that
Philemon and the others will refresh our hearts even more and receive
you as a brother in Christ.” The scene closes with Paul and Timothy
writing the letter and Onesimus gathering his things and some food and
water for his return journey.”
Act II, Scene II:
The curtain rises on Philemon’s house and shop. It is early morning,
and Philemon wakes and gets ready for the day. Something is
different, and yet the same. The water has already been drawn, and
the fire in the house is burning. Philemon goes to the shop; the fire
is going there too. Returning to the house, Philemon finds Onesimus
sitting at the table. The two men stare at each other. A thousand
words pass between them in a silent moment. Philemon sees a cross
around Onesimus’ neck, much like the one he wears every day. He also
sees a letter in Onesimus’ hand. Without saying a word, Onesimus
hands Philemon the letter and bows his head.
Philemon takes the
letter to the fire, where there is enough light for his shocked, angry
eyes to read. “Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our
brother, To Philemon, our beloved fellow worker….” He stops, looks
over at Onesimus, whose head is still bowed down. Philemon continues
with the letter, even more in shock. “I hear of your love and of your
faith…. I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus….So if you consider me
your partner, receive him as you would receive me….Refresh my heart in
Christ.”
Philemon sits down
and looks over the letter again. Onesimus comes over, gets down on
his knees and says, “Philemon, my master and brother. Receive your
servant. Forgive me for leaving you, for breaking my promise to you.”
Philemon looks
over at him. The anger is all but gone from his eyes. Now there is
bewilderment, and a touch of welcome. He says, “I can’t tell you how
angry I have been about this whole thing. Yet here you are. I have
read this letter; it is still sinking in. I am also thinking about
the story that Jesus told—where the Prodigal Son returns to his
father. I am having a taste the father’s joy, and also the older
son’s bitterness. I also believe God’s grace is working in you and in
me. [He looks at the letter.] Paul and Timothy sure know how to put
things in perspective. Who I am to withhold forgiveness from you,
myself a sinner? Even now I can feel my heart opening to you, yet I
must hear your story. Tell me everything, my brother, that my head
may catch up to my heart, so that God’s grace that has been working in
you, may also work in me.”
The curtain falls
on the two men sitting by the fire, a humbled and refreshed faith
burning within each of their hearts. And back in Ephesus, Paul and
Timothy, Luke and Mark were praying that it were so.
© The Rev. Robert B. Wood. All Rights
reserved.
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