From: richarra@gmail.com

Don't pursue human glory

"If the devil has been driven out and sin no longer reigns, then the
kingdom of God is established in us. As it is written in the Gospel,
'The kingdom of God does not come with observation, nor will they say,
'Lo here,' or 'Lo, there.' Truly I say to you that the kingdom of God
is within you' (Luke 17:20-21). The only thing that can be 'within us'
is knowledge or ignorance of the truth and the affection for
righteousness or sin by which we prepare our hearts to be a kingdom of
Christ or the devil. St. Paul described the nature of this kingdom in
this way: 'For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit' (Romans 14:17). If
the kingdom of God is within us and is righteousness, peace and joy,
then someone that remains in these is surely within the kingdom of
God. Someone that remains in unrighteousness, conflict and the
melancholy that kills the life of the spirit is already a citizen of
the devil's kingdom, of hell and of death. These are the signs whether
it is God's kingdom or the devil's."
by John Cassian (excerpt from CONFERENCE 1.13.5)

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November 22nd - SS. Philemon and Apphia

PHILEMON, a citizen of Colossæ in Phrygia, a man of quality and very
rich, had been converted either by St. Paul, when he preached at
Ephesus, or by his disciple Epaphras, who first announced the gospel
at Colossæ. So great was the progress he had made in virtue in a short
time, that his house was become like a church, by the devotion and
piety of those who composed it, and the religious exercises which were constantly performed in it: the assemblies of the faithful seem also
to have been kept there. Onesimus, a slave, far from profiting by the
good example before his eyes, became even the more wicked. He robbed
his master, and fled to Rome, where God permitted him to find out St.
Paul, who was then prisoner the first time in that city, in the year
62. That apostle, who was all to all to gain the whole world to Jesus
Christ, received this slave with the tenderness of a father, showing
so much the greater compassion as his wounds were the deeper. Habits
of theft are most difficult to be cured: Onesimus was probably engaged
in other evil courses, such crimes seldom go alone. Perhaps only
distress had brought him to St. Paul; yet the spirit of sincere
charity and piety, with which the apostle treated him, wrought an
entire change of his heart, so that its whole frame was renewed, and
the stream of all his appetites so turned, that of a passionate,
false, self-interested man, he was now humble, meek, patient, devout,
and full of charity.

True conversions are very rare, because nothing under a total and
thorough change will suffice. Neither tears, nor good desires, nor
intentions, nor the relinquishment of some sins, nor the performance
of some good works will avail anything, but a new creature; a word
that comprehends more in it than words can express, and which can only
be understood by those who feel it within themselves. Such was the
conversion of Onesimus, when he was instructed in the faith, and
baptized by St. Paul. The apostle desired to detain him that he might
do him those services which the convert could have wished himself to
have rendered to his spiritual master. But he would not do it without
the consent of him to whom he belonged; nor deprive Philemon of the
merit of a good work, to which he was persuaded it would be his great
pleasure to concur: in justice the slave owed a satisfaction and
restitution to his master. St. Paul, therefore, sent Onesimus back
with an excellent epistle to Philemon, in which he writes with an
inimitable tenderness and power of persuasion, yet with authority and
dignity. He styles himself prisoner of Jesus Christ, the more
feelingly to touch the heart of Philemon, and to move him to regard
his prayer. He joins Timothy, well known to Philemon, with himself,
and calls Philemon his beloved, and his assistant, who shared with him
the fruit and labour of the apostleship, to which the other
contributed all the succours in his power.

Apphia, his pious and worthy wife, the apostle calls his dear sister,
on the account of her faith and virtue. He would also interest in his
petition the whole church of Colossæ; Archippus, who governed it for
Epaphras, then in chains at Rome, and the domestic church or faithful
house of Philemon. He wishes them grace and peace. This was his
ordinary salutation. And what could he ask of God greater for them
than grace, which is the source and principle of Christian virtue, and
peace, which is its fruit and recompense? To praise a man to his face
is a most delicate and difficult task: this he does by thanking God
for Philemon, which is the only manner of praising another worthy of a Christian, who knows that all good is the gift of God. Thus the
apostle commends his faith, charity, and liberality to all as a member
of Christ, and declares his own affection by the strongest token, that
of always remembering him, and commending him to God in all his
prayers; which no one can give a more certain mark of his sincere
friendship. He uses the tender epithet of brother; and says that the
saints have found comfort by him in the assistance he afforded to all
the afflicted brethren, whose interests were common among them.

At last he comes to the point, but proposes it with authority,
modestly putting Philemon in mind that, as an apostle, he could
command him in Christ; but is content to pray him, mentioning whatever
could render his entreaties more tender; as his name, which expressed
a great deal, his age and his chains: he intercedes for one whom he
calls his own bowels, and his son begotten in his chains: he speaks of
his theft and flight in soft terms, and mentions how serviceable he
had himself found him. He entreats and begs for his own sake, and
prays that the obligations which Philemon had to him, for the eternal
salvation of his own soul, and his all, might acquit Onesimus of his
debt and injustice. He concludes, conjuring him by their strict union
and brotherhood in Christ. Philemon, upon such a recommendation, with
joy granted Onesimus his liberty, forgave him his crimes, and all
satisfaction, and shortly after sent him back to St. Paul, to serve
him at Rome; but the apostle wanted not his corporal services, and
made him a worthy fellow-labourer in the gospel. Both Latins and
Greeks honour SS. Philemon and Apphia on this or the following day.
Some Greeks say Philemon died a martyr.


Saint Quote:
This Blood --that but one drop of --has the power to win All the world forgiveness of its world of sin.
--St. Thomas Aquinas

Bible Quote:
For the desire of money is the root of all evils; which some coveting
have erred from the faith and have entangled themselves in many
sorrows. [1 Timothy 6:10] DRB

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Meditation for troubled times:

Pride stands sentinel at the door of the heart and shuts out the love
of God. God can only dwell with the humble and the obedient. Obedience
to God's will is the key unlocking the door to God's kingdom. You
cannot obey God to the best of your ability without in time realizing
God's love and responding to that love. The rough stone steps of
obedience lead up to where the mosaic floor of love and joy is laid.
Where God's spirit is, there is your home. There is heaven for you.
--From twenty-four Hours a Day

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* Origin: www.darkrealms.ca (1:229/2)