Beneath the Surface
A short reflection on Philemon 1–21, Luke 14:25–33 and Ocean Sunday
Sometimes faith asks us to look deeper – past appearances, past comfort, past convenience. This Ocean Sunday, we are reminded that just as the ocean hides great depths, so too does discipleship. In Paul’s letter to Philemon, he challenges the early Christian leader to receive a former slave not as property but as a beloved brother. It's a radical reimagining of relationship, love, and justice. Paul doesn't just call for a change in status, but a transformation of the heart. Love costs something.
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus warns that following him means carrying a cross, reordering our lives, and letting go of what once defined us. It’s not about hating our family and others, but about loving God so fully that everything else falls into its right place. The path of discipleship is not easy – but it is holy.
And so, we turn to the ocean – vast, life-giving, and imperiled. Like Onesimus, the ocean is often exploited. Yet it, too, is sacred. In Pasifika spirituality, the concept of va reminds us that the ocean is not a barrier, but a relational space connecting us. How we treat the ocean reflects how we treat one another and God’s creation.
True discipleship means costly transformation rooted in love and justice.
Creation care is not optional – it’s integral to following Jesus.
Ngā mihi
Philip
7 September 2025
p.s. Worship leaders: You can buy a complete Order of Service and Sermon based on these readings here: https://philipgarsidebooks.com/products/worship-at-hand-pentecost-13-7-september-2025