Homily: Rafael A. Otero Curras

Introduction

Story of Abdi: Naphtali’s Love Slave

Opens with sun beaming; working the field

Better than the alternative as a child (orphan); field reminds him...

killed master’s son

hiding in the field

saw his son crossing with bag, thought it had valuables, but turned out to be food.

they were boys

Master spared my life, but became his slave

“I was kind of alright with it since I had no one up to that point. At least now I had a home, food, and work to do.”

Master’s wife warmed up to me, but it took 4 years.

The thing was even though I didn’t have to glean the edges of other’s harvests, find temporary homes in fields and had a family, I had grown to hate myself.

“See, my master, Naphtali, eventually began treating me like his own son.”

Shared the best food on special occasions

Shared the wisdom in our law

Shared a beautiful woman to be my wife who bore me two children.

This all changed on an evening when we were celebrating Passover...

My master walked up to me and said "Abdi, I forgave you for killing my son years ago.