God is Still Restoring Hearts

Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

Reading 1 Philemon 7-20

Beloved:
I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love,
because the hearts of the holy ones
have been refreshed by you, brother.
Therefore, although I have the full right in Christ
to order you to do what is proper,
I rather urge you out of love,
being as I am, Paul, an old man,
and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus.
I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus,
whose father I have become in my imprisonment,
who was once useless to you but is now useful to both you and me.
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
I should have liked to retain him for myself,
so that he might serve me on your behalf
in my imprisonment for the Gospel,
but I did not want to do anything without your consent,
so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.
Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while,
that you might have him back forever,
no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother,
beloved especially to me, but even more so to you,
as a man and in the Lord.
So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
And if he has done you any injustice
or owes you anything, charge it to me.
I, Paul, write this in my own hand: I will pay.
May I not tell you that you owe me your very self.
Yes, brother, may I profit from you in the Lord.
Refresh my heart in Christ.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 146:7, 8-9a, 9bc-10

R. (5a) Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.

 

 

Alleluia John 15:5

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord:
whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 17:20-25

Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come,
Jesus said in reply,
“The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed,
and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’
For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”

Then he said to his disciples,
“The days will come when you will long to see
one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.
There will be those who will say to you,
‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’
Do not go off, do not run in pursuit.
For just as lightning flashes
and lights up the sky from one side to the other,
so will the Son of Man be in his day.
But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.”
 

- - -

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

God is Still Restoring Hearts

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.

Share:

Go Deeper

Products to help your prayer life & relationship with Jesus 🙏🏽

Fully Alive Advent Bundle
-20%
Bundle
5.0
Fully Alive Advent Bundle
Sale price $ 1,584.00
Regular price $ 1,980.00
Dark brown wall crucifix with a white corpus of Christ mounted on a textured wall, softly lit above blurred flowers in a peaceful Catholic setting
-18%
4.6
Wall Crucifix // 12 inch
Sale price $ 849.00
Regular price $ 1,037.00
Catholic Compact Journaling Bible in a bright orange cover held by hand among lush green leaves for prayer and journaling on the go
Hand holding the Blessed Mother Rosary
Do Whatever He Tells You (John 2:5 Poster) - Blessed Is She Posters & Prints
-50%
4.5
Do Whatever He Tells You — John 2:5 (24x36)
Sale price $ 330.00
Regular price $ 660.00

Before You Go…

Here are a few more posts you might love:

Gratitude Gets the Last Word
The Joy of Serving the Servant of All
Check Back In Three Days or Sooner
An Honorable Cause
Potential for Crisis
He Finds the Lost
Why Grumble?