Father Mike Schmitz

Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be granted to you.

Final greetings and benediction.

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

She considers a field and buys it.

With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.

She clothes her loins with strength and makes her arms strong.

She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.

Thank you for bringing us to this place.

Thank you for this letter of St.

Paul to Philemon.

Thank you for giving us insight into judgment, for giving us insight into the fact that this world, though good, is broken and will not go on forever.

The brokenness will not go on forever.

You will bring your just judgment to us, to our lives, and to the world that you've placed us in.

Help us to be faithful to you.

Help us to be found watching and waiting, prepared to receive you as you deserve to be received.

Help us to endure pain well.

Help us to endure suffering like your Son, Jesus Christ, endured it.

And we ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.