24 July 2022 -17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Then the Lord said, ‘How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know.’
From Genesis 18:20-32, NRSV
After entertaining the Lord and his two companions, Abraham continued his hospitality by accompanying them on the start of their next journey and ensuring that they were on the right track. We then hear of a conversation between God and Abraham about the fate of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah as a consequence of their sinfulness. Showing the growth of his trust in the Lord, Abraham initiated a bargaining process. Following the conventions of such a process, Abraham bartered with the Lord until he reached an agreement that the cities would not be destroyed even if there were only ten “just men” amongst the many sinners. It is clear that Abraham had developed his trust in the Lord through his persistence in bartering from fifty down to ten. Abraham did not have a close association with the people for whom he made this bargain but the Lord allowed him this opportunity to develop into the figurehead that he was to become.
- Was it necessary for the Lord to allow Abraham to intervene on behalf of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah?
- Are there people today who need our intercession with God?
The full reading from which the extract above is drawn reveals much about the growing relationship between Abraham and the Lord which can be better appreciated by reading it in its entirety.
