Readings: Wisdom 9:13-18b; Psalm 89; Philemon 9b-10, 12-17; Luke 14:25-33
Grace and peace to you my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Today is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C.
Today, I would like to specifically reflect on the readings we have listened to.
THE FIRST READING
Our First Reading is from the Book of Wisdom. The Book of Wisdom is one of the Deuterocanonical books, included in the Catholic and Orthodox Old Testament but not in the Protestant canon.
Although the book is traditionally attributed to King Solomon, it was most likely written by a Jewish teacher in Alexandria, Egypt, around 100-50 BC. The author wrote in Greek, not Hebrew, which shows it was intended for Jews living in a Greek-speaking world.
Many Jews of the time were living outside the Holy Land (the Diaspora), and in places like Alexandria, they were exposed to Greek philosophy, culture, and even pagan religions. This caused tension: some Jews were tempted to abandon their faith, while others suffered ridicule or persecution for remaining faithful.
So, the Book of Wisdom was written to strengthen their faith in God, to teach the superiority of divine wisdom over human reasoning and pagan ideas, to offer hope in persecution and injustice by assuring the faithful that they are safe with God in life or death, and finally, to present Israel’s God to the wider world as the true God, opposing idolatry, superstition, and immorality common in the pagan world.
The First Reading of today can be summarised thus:
I. The limitation of human wisdom.
The author highlights the smallness of human knowledge. Even with all our efforts, we struggle to understand earthly matters, we make wrong judgments, and we fail and get things very wrong. How much more the mysteries of God! And yet we question and challenge God as if our wisdom is a match to His.
II. To navigate life, we need divine wisdom.
We need revelation and guidance, which only the Holy Spirit can give.
This calls us to four things:
Prayer for wisdom and divine guidance.
Humility to accept our limitations and seek the Spirit’s guidance.
Openness to the Holy Spirit who enlightens, guides, reveals and strengthens us.
Surrender to God’s supreme will and wisdom, even when it contradicts our will, understanding and logic.
THE SECOND READING
The Second Reading is Paul’s shortest letter, only 25 verses. It is also one of his most personal letters. It was written to Philemon, a Christian living in Colossae, a friend and co-worker of Paul. His house served as a meeting place for the local church. It is dated around AD 61-63, while Paul was in prison (probably in Rome).
The Context
Philemon had a slave named Onesimus whom he loved and trusted very much. Onesimus stole some of his master’s property and ran away to Rome. Onesimus met Paul in prison, was converted to Christianity, and became very dear to Paul.
Paul then wrote this letter to Philemon, sending Onesimus back but urging Philemon to receive him not as a slave but as a brother in Christ.
Take note: in the Roman world, a runaway slave was to be severely punished, even executed. Here, Paul did not just urge Philemon not to punish, but urged him to forgive Onesimus and to receive him back not as property, not judging him by his past, but as a beloved brother.
Let me highlight some powerful messages for us here:
What Paul asked of Philemon goes against human logic, feeling and judgment but it is consistent with divine wisdom. The way of divine wisdom is not revenge but reconciliation, grounded in love and mercy.
Christianity is not just about personal piety but about transforming and restoring broken relationships – at home, in communities, in the parish, and even across divisions.
Like Philemon, we are challenged to forgive and accept others, because in Christ no one is beyond redemption. We are called to see people not by their social labels or past mistakes, but by their dignity in Christ.
Like Paul, we are invited to be mediators of reconciliation, helping others to discover their new identity in Christ.
This passage teaches us the transformation that the Gospel brings. Onesimus, once “useless” (his name means “useful”), is now “useful” through the power of the Gospel (verse 11). Jesus is a life changer and restorer of our true identity. His Gospel and the Holy Spirit are the agents. It is through Him that we all truly become “Onesimus” (useful) to God, to ourselves and to the world.
Like Onesimus, we should be humble enough to admit our faults and seek forgiveness from those we have hurt, instead of perpetuating broken relationships because of pride.
THE GOSPEL
Today’s Gospel is one of the frank conversations of Jesus that many find perplexing. Jesus has always taught us to love – why is He calling us to hate our family members now?
Let us clarify the word used here.
The term “hate” is μισεῖ (misei). It could mean, “to detest, love less or esteem less.” It is a hyperbolic expression common in Semitic languages, emphasising preference rather than literal animosity.
In Matthew 10:37, Jesus clarifies this by stating that anyone who loves family more than Him is not worthy of Him.
Let us simplify the message of today’s Gospel: to truly follow Jesus is not just by coming to Church or saying some prayers. It demands that:
I. We must love Him and prioritise Him above all human relationships. It is said that we love others best by loving God most.
II. Jesus must be more important to us than any earthly gain, ambition or possession, even more than life itself. This is a call to true freedom.
III. We must be willing to surrender our will, wisdom, plans, pleasures, feelings and desires to accept His. This is the summary of the First Reading and the challenge of the Second Reading. This is the call of Jesus to all of us. Like Paul to Philemon, it is a challenge of love. Whatever God calls us to, it is for our good, but we are free to accept or reject.
Sermon preached by Fr Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on September 7, 2025.