The reading from the letter to Philemon is one of those moving passages in the scriptures. Saint Paul, writing as his life nears its end, begs for the freedom for a slave who has served the mission of the Gospel. He asks the owner to accept the slave as a brother; by these words we are called to look at all of our relationships and find a place for Christ in them.
In the Gospel, Jesus asks us to be even more radical and to put our lives in perspective. We need to despise anything on earth that does not make of us a better disciple. Not even concern for our family can take precedence over our relationship with God. It is only in being totally dedicated to God that we can accept the gift of our salvation. If we look anywhere else, we will not find that true treasure.
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