November 12, 2026 // Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Philemon 7-20

Reflect on the Word // 

At thirteen, my parents divorced, and I went to live exclusively with my mom. The loss of our family as I knew it deeply wounded my relationship with my dad, and for decades, distance remained between us. We lived in different states, and most of our communication happened through texts and emails. While I knew intellectually that my father loved me, for most of my life, I did not have the daily experiences that allowed me to truly feel that love.

Recently, I visited my dad for four days with one of my daughters. We shared meals, talked, and slowly reconnected. What surprised me were the quiet, thoughtful ways he cared for me. He filled the car with gas before I had the chance, gave me more money than I needed for parking “just in case,” and stood in the driveway each time we ventured out until our car disappeared from view. There were no difficult conversations or attempts to rewrite the past. Yet through those simple acts of love, I experienced something I had been missing for decades: the tender care of my father.

As I reflected on today’s First Reading, I found myself thinking about that visit with my dad. Paul appeals to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus. He does not ask Philemon to ignore the past or pretend that nothing happened. Instead, he invites him to see Onesimus through the eyes of Christ—“no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother” (Philemon 16). While their relationship could not return to what it once was, through God’s mercy, it could become something new. Healing does not always arrive through dramatic moments. Sometimes it comes quietly, through softened hearts, small acts of kindness, and the slow restoration of trust.

My dear sisters, perhaps there is a relationship in your life marked by hurt or distance. If it feels too broken to hope for, entrust it to the Lord. While every story unfolds differently, God is still in the business of restoring hearts. His grace can create something new, even when the past remains unchanged.

Relate to the Lord // Is there a person that comes to mind when you think about forgiveness and restoration? Journal about it and ask the Lord–once again or for the first time–to have His way.