23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, RCL)

An unconfident reader

Paul was in Rome, the epicenter of empire, the magnet for people on the lam such as fugitive slaves. He was a “prisoner of Christ Jesus” not only because the Messiah had captured his heart but also because he had boldly proclaimed the grace and peace he had found. Somehow, through the Christian grapevine, Onesimus found Paul and sought shelter with him. Now Onesimus is going back to his owner.

If you’re Eli, you’re not sleeping that well when the boy comes trotting in to disturb you with his nonsense.