Month: September 2025

Our Second Reading is an extract from the letter of St. Paul to a gentleman named Philemon.

The letter takes up no more than a page in the Bible I use.

Philemon was a first-century Christian and a slave owner who also hosted a church in his home, most likely in Colossae.

His name means “affectionate” in Greek, and, from all we know about Philemon, he lived up to his name.

Paul had led Philemon to faith on one of his visits to Asia Minor and had stayed in Philemon’s home when in that region.

The book of Philemon is a personal letter from the apostle Paul to his friend Philemon whom he calls a “dear friend and fellow worker” 

Paul appeals to his friend on behalf of a runaway slave named Onesimus.

Onesimus had somehow connected with Paul, who was imprisoned in Rome. Onesimus became a believer, but, because he was the property of Philemon, Paul sent him back to his owner with a letter.

The fact that Philemon owns a slave tells us that he is a person of means. The word we might use today is ‘affluent’. There is a realisation that persons of means are not excluded from hearing God’s Word and believing.

The relationship between Paul and Philemon is clearly warm and respectful.

While Paul never criticises Philemon for owning slaves, he gently reminds him that Onesimus is now a brother in Christ and that truth should now define the relationship.

It is quite probable that Philemon freed his returned slave, as he heeded Paul’s instruction that, under the covenant of grace, both master and slave have equal standing in the body of Christ.

Once upon a time, a very rich but miserly man went to his rabbi and asked for his blessing.

The rabbi greeted him in a friendly manner and brought him into his living room.

Then he led the man to the window which looked out onto the street and said, ‘look out there and tell me what you see.’

‘I see people walking about,’ the rich man answered.

Then the rabbi took him away from the window and having placed a large mirror before him said, ‘look into the mirror and tell me what you see.’

‘I see myself,’ the man answered.

‘Now, my friend, let me explain the meaning of this to you.

The window is made of glass, as also is the mirror.

However, the glass of the mirror has a veneer of silver on it.

When you look through plain glass you see people.

But when you cover it with silver you stop seeing others and see only yourself.

When you are concerned only with money, you stop seeing others and see only yourself.’

This Sunday our Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The Gospel is John 3: 13 – 17.

The television programme “The Repair Shop” screens on TVNZ1 on a Friday evening.

During the programme some of Britain’s most skilled restoration experts breathe new life into much-cherished family heirlooms that are dropped off by members of the public, who reveal the personal stories behind the items.

Items can include silverware, ceramics, leather goods and wood items.

Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell are known on the programme as “the Teddy Bear ladies” and are renown as teddy bear and soft toy restorers.

A couple of weeks ago, the “Teddy Bear ladies” met with quite an elderly woman who had brought with her a quite damaged doll. The exact details elude me; however, the gist of her story was that she had been given the doll at a young age by her father.

The doll was now missing a finger and a couple of toes; the doll’s eyes no longer blinked, and a portion of the stuffing had been knocked out of the doll.

It was the comment that the elderly lady made about the doll as she handed her doll over for repair that brought me to attention. She commented, of the doll, “it has been damaged by love!”

Wow!

What a wonderful description of the mystery of Redemption which we celebrate with the feast known as “The Exaltation of the Cross”.

Today, I suggest, if you are able, to spend five minutes sitting, kneeling or in a physical posture comfortable for you, in front of a Crucifix and in rhythm with your inhaling and exhaling breath recite quietly, “damaged by love.”

The image is by the Ukrainian realist painter, Nikolai Ge. Titled ‘Le Calvaire’ it is part of the collection of art works at the Musée d’Orsay, Paris.