I remember reading about a man who worked for a corporation in Japan. When he was hired by the corporation, it was understood that he was giving his life to the corporation. Priorities were clear: corporation first, personal and family interests came in second. This man had a bed in his office where he stayed when he worked late. If his son was playing soccer Saturday afternoon and his supervisor wanted him to spend the day at work, he accepted the fact that the soccer game was not an option for him.
Doesn’t this sound like slavery? This man lived in submission to his company. And, had he chosen to quit his job, what else would he do? Would he become part of another enslaving corporation?
We think, “I’m sure glad I’m not a slave, like this man in Japan.”
In a way, though, are we not all slaves? Some people work sixty hours a week to keep their jobs. Others become a slave to food, alcohol, drugs, or recreation. I know grandparents who are a slave to the needs of their children and grandchildren. Then we hear St. Paul talk about all of us being “slaves of sin” before Jesus came into our lives. It seems that, ingrained in each human being, is the need to be enslaved to something outside ourselves.
St. Paul wrote a letter to a friend, Philemon (Philemon 7-20). He was a wealthy man who had become a Christian and was generous to fellow believers. Being a man of means, he provided work, room and board for poorer people. This was the “corporate” system in his day. And I’m sure Philemon was kind and gracious to those who worked for him—his “slaves.” Paul wrote this of him:
“Beloved: I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the holy ones have been refreshed by you, brother.”
Notice the affectionate terms, “beloved” and “brother,” and the affirmation Paul gave his wealthy friend.
One of his slaves, Onesimus, deserted Philemon and headed off to the big city, Rome, to establish a new life for himself. There he met the prisoner, Paul (a slave to the Roman government), and became a Christian. After a time Paul told Onesimus that, in a spirit of justice, he needed to return home to Philemon’s estate. When a runaway slave was captured, the owner, as I understand it, had the right to punish him severely, as a warning to other slaves not to do the same. What a risk for Onesimus! So Paul wrote a letter to Philemon asking him to receive Onesimus back into his “corporation” without punishing him.
“I, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus…urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment, who was once useless to you, but is now useful to both you and me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.”
Paul loved this young “slave” as a son in Christ. In return Onesimus helped take care of the aging Paul. It would have been easier for Paul to keep Onesimus rather than sending him back to his owner. Had Paul done this, however, how would this affect the Christian community and his friendship between Philemon?
Paul, being a just man whose intent was to please God, chose to do the right thing, and trusted that Philemon would cooperate. Paul reflected that:
“Perhaps this is why he (Onesimus) was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord.”
Did we catch that phrase, “more than a slave, a brother?” This was unheard of that a corporate owner would humble himself and become “brother” to a slave—especially a runaway one. Yet Paul was bold enough to proclaim the equality that exists in the Body of Christ. Onesimus would remain as his slave “forever” and help take care of him when he got old, just the way he had helped Paul.
Paul, in his writings, accepted the fact that we humans are all slaves. Yet we do have the freedom to choose our master. Will it be Christ or some other kind of “god?”
Being a slave of Christ is like having a kind, generous man similar to Philemon as our master. And when we run away, repent, and return, he receives us with love. And, beyond this, when we submit ourselves freely to Christ, he accepts us as more than slaves to being his own brothers and sisters. We serve gladly, and at the same time we enjoy the privilege of being closer to him than a friend.
What happy slaves we are!
“The Lord secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry” (Ps 146:7).
