Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

The Rev. Phil Brochard The sermon reflects on Paul’s short letter to Philemon, written from prison about Onesimus, a slave who had become dear to him. Paul appeals to Philemon not through command but “on the basis of love,” asking him to see Onesimus as a brother rather than property. The preacher emphasizes how Paul redefines family in Christ, creating bonds that transcend blood ties and social hierarchies. This ethic of non-dominance and voluntary love challenges today’s culture of coercion, reminding us that the world is changed not by force but by sacrificial, relational love.