Sunday Says Podcast – September 8, 2013 Mass Readings and Reflection

Reading 2:

The Second Reading comes from the book of Philemon, one of the shortest books in the Bible – but a very interesting one.   This epistle is essentially a personal letter from Saint Paul sent to Christian Convert named Philemon, written while Paul was in prison in Rome.   Philemon was a slave owner during a time in history in which slavery was common.  It just so happens that this slave, named Onesimus, had run away from his master and eventually became a Christian convert under Paul’s mentoring.  Paul’s letter is a moving request to Philemon that he allow his slave to return, but to be no longer a slave, but a free man — another brother in Christ.  This writing gives voice to an idea revolutionary at the time, that in Christ, we are all brothers

Gospel:

 In our reading from the Gospel of Luke Jesus shocks us as he puts the true cost of discipleship out in the open and does not hide it in the fine print.  When Jesus says you must “hate” your father and your mother, he is not telling us to disregard the commandment to honor our father and mother… rather he is using exaggeration which was a common Hebrew rhetorical style to emphasize a point… that not even family should come before God.  But he also makes clear that following him is not really following him unless it involves sacrifice.   This probably wasn’t a very popular message back then, and is certainly not a popular message today in our consumer culture.  But without any concern for the popularity of his message he informs any of us who would be His disciples that his sovereignty must extend to everything in our lives.  Any people, places, things, desires, or comforts that would come before Christ or pull us away from Christ must be discarded, even if it means giving up everything.    Detaching ourselves from some of the things we love might feel like a kind of death.  This is challenging, difficult, and demanding.  The Gospel today urges us consider the cost carefully and to commit ourselves completely.

Theme song – Ignite – Soundwave soundwave.cc 

Background Music Credits:

all from Creative Commons, http://freemusicarchive.org/

Dexter Britain: The Time To Run Finale

Gillicuddy:  Jupiter The Blue

Cobra avec logo panthre:PrudHommes

Entertainment  for the Braindead: 02_-_Solitude