From IWJ: It’s been a particularly challenging year for workers. Hundreds of thousands are still without jobs; the rights of immigrant workers are constantly threatened by proposed anti-immigrant legislation; and millions of working families still live below the poverty line.

This Labor Day, we take time to remember and draw strength from the stuggles and victories of workers who came before us. And as we celebrate the past, let us also honor and lift up those individuals whose labor continue to impact our lives today.

For the month of September, I join IWJ, and also invite you, to honor at least one special worker. By honoring a worker today, we not only recognize and thank one or a handful of people in our lives, we are also supporting their efforts to improve wages, benefits and conditions for all workers.

Also, on Labor Day weekend, congregations across the country will be hosting workers and labor leaders to reflect on faith, work, justice, and the meaning of Labor Day. I encourage you to attend! Click to find a service/event near you, and visit IWJ for information on organizing an event in your congregation.

Here is a really nice reflection on Philemon 1:1-21 in Philemon: Lessons for Labor Day

The short book of Philemon is one of the lectionary readings for Labor Day weekend 2010. Only 25 verses long, commentators aren’t clear exactly what is going on in the passage. It is clearly a letter from Paul and Timothy to a man named Philemon.

Let’s identify the main characters. There’s Paul, who’s in jail, and Timothy, his younger colleague and cohort. The letter is written to Philemon, who’s described as a “dear brother and fellow worker,” Apphia, called “our sister,” Archippus, who is a solider, and to the whole Church that meets in Philemon’s home. This makes us think that Philemon is fairly well to do, otherwise the Church probably couldn’t meet in his home. Plus, he clearly has at least one slave – Onesimus.

Paul gives thanks for Philemon’s love of people and prays that he will be active in sharing his faith and recognizing “every good thing we have in Christ.”

Then the crux of the letter begins. Paul is pleading on Onesimus’ behalf. Paul acknowledges that previously Onesimus was “useless” to Philemon. We don’t know why he was useless. Perhaps he was young and foolish. Perhaps he didn’t work hard. Perhaps he was actually a very good worker but Philemon took a dislike to him. We just don’t know.

Paul says, “I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of love.” So somehow, it appears that Philemon wasn’t being fair to Onesimus. Philemon is resisting doing what he ought to do, so Paul is appealing out of love.

Onesimus has served Paul well while he was in prison. He has become to him like a son, which is where we get the sense that Onesimus is young. Again, we’re not quite sure how Onesimus happened to get to prison with Paul. Perhaps Philemon had gotten mad and sent him to prison. Perhaps he had sent him with the mission of helping Paul.

Paul wanted to keep Onesimus with him, but he didn’t want to do so without Philemon’s consent, because the text says “so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.” Paul wants Onesimus to stay with him, but doesn’t want Philemon to feel like he must continue allowing him there. Interesting.

Paul speculates about the real purpose behind why Onesimus was separated. He says, “Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good – no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother.” He goes on to say, “He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother to the Lord.”

You know how we often see God’s hand in situation in the long run, but not in the short run. We view things one way at the time, but another in retrospect. What would explain Paul’s comments? Perhaps Onesimus ran away. Perhaps he bought his way out of being a slave. Perhaps Onesimus stole money or did something so bad that Philemon sent him off to jail. We don’t know. But, we do know that Paul is urging Philemon to see God’s hand in all this. Paul is urging him to see his coming back as a good thing. He is coming back as a brother and not as a slave.

Paul then goes on to say that if Philemon views Paul as a partner, then Philemon should welcome Onesimus “as you would welcome me.” Obviously, Philemon was not going to welcome him back nicely, otherwise Paul would not have had to beg him like this. Somehow or other Philemon is mad at Onesimus. Further, Paul says, “If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.” Paul assures him that “I, Paul, am writing with my own hand.” Paul reiterates, “I will pay it back.”

Then Paul reminds Philemon that “you owe me your very self.” I assume this is referring to the fact that Paul evangelized Philemon. Paul is reminding him of his values and the debts that Philemon owes. Onesimus is not the only one with debts.

Finally, Paul appeals one last time to his good nature: “I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.”

Then Paul asks for a room and sends various greetings.

I can’t help, on this Labor Day weekend, reading this story as one about a rich and kind of spiteful, unforgiving, boss. Paul says Onesimus is a good guy. He is a dear brother. Paul is begging Philemon to welcome him back and treat him well. And, Paul is offering to pay any debt he may have. I don’t know about you, but Philemon seems the difficult one in this passage. Paul is treating him with kid gloves, appealing to love, calling in a debt, putting the situation in a favorable light.

So, what are the lessons for us here this Labor Day weekend? Frankly, the lessons depend in part on who we see ourselves as in the story. But frankly, I think most of the lessons are for bosses and those with influence. Let me suggest four key lessons:

…

Philemon may be a short book, but it is crammed full of lessons for us this Labor Day. None of us is perfect. Err on the side of forgiving mistakes by our co-workers, employees or even our bosses. When you see injustice and unfairness in the workplace, intervene. Be willing to step outside your comfort zone and speak up for your colleagues. And finally, approach those to whom you are appealing in a respectful manner. Pray for them and appeal to their best nature. These are good lessons this Labor Day weekend. Lessons for the workplace. Lessons for our families. And lessons for the Church.