Bulletin 08.13.23

It shows a lovely example of Christian love. Paul lays himself out for poor Onesimus, and with all his means pleads his cause with his master, and so sets himself as if he were Onesimus and had himself done wrong to Philemon. Yet he does all this, not with force as if he had a right thereto, but strips himself of his right and thus moves Philemon to forego his right also: even as Christ did for us with God the Father; for Christ also stripped Himself of His right and by love and humility moved the Father to lay aside His wrath and power and to take us to His grace for the sake of Christ, who lovingly pleads our cause and with all His heart lays Himself out for us; for we are all His Onesimi.

– Martin Luther, “Preface to the Epistle of St. Paul to Philemon” (1546) in Luther’s Works, Vol. 35, edited by Jaroslav Pelikan (p. 390)

For Mrs. Fidget, as she so often said, would “work her fingers to the bone” for her family. They couldn’t stop her. Nor could they--being decent people--quite sit still and watch her do it. They had to help. Indeed they were always having to help. That is, they did things for her to help her to do things for them which they didn’t want done… The Vicar says Mrs. Fidget is now at rest. Let us hope she is. What’ s quite certain is that her family are.

– C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves (CH 3: Affection); 1960

Romans 15.1-7

Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.