Daily Mass Readings for November 14, 2024: Gospel — Lc 17, 20-25

⁷ I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. ⁸ So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper, ⁹ I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus— 1 ⁰ I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus, 1 ¹ who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me. 1 ² I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you. 1 ³ I wanted to keep him with me so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel. 1 ⁴ However, without your consent I did not want to do anything so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness. 1 ⁵ For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while so that you would have him back eternally, 1 ⁶ no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord. 1 ⁷ Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me. 1 ⁸ Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes to me. 1 ⁹ I, Paul, have written this letter with my own hand: I will repay it. I could also mention that you owe me your very self. 2 ⁰ Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.