Daily Devotion for 15 February 2025 (6th Saturday after Epiphany)
Readings
- Psalm 57
- Psalm 1
- Job 11:1–20
- John 5:19–29
- Smalcald Articles, III, IV–VII
Commemoration
Today we commemorate Philemon and Onesimus. Onesimus was a slave, owned by Philemon, who ran away from his master. Somehow, Onesimus came into contact with Paul while Paul was in prison. At the urging of Paul, and with an accompanying letter, Onesimus returned to his master. In his letter, Paul urged Philemon to receive Onesimus as a beloved brother, instead of as a runaway slave, as one might expect; however, Paul also, notably, did not command or ask Philemon to free Onesimus.