Gn 18:16-33 The LORD reflected: “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, now that he is to become a great and populous nation, and all the nations of the earth are to find blessing in him? Indeed, I have singled him out that he may direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD may carry into effect for Abraham the promises he made about him.” Then the LORD said: “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin so grave, that I must go down and see whether or not their actions fully correspond to the cry against them that comes to me. I mean to find out.”
While the two men walked on farther toward Sodom, the LORD remained standing before Abraham. Then Abraham drew nearer to him and said: “Will you sweep away the innocent with the guilty? -Suppose there were fifty innocent people in the city; -Abraham spoke up again:“See how I am presuming to speak to my Lord, though I am but dust and ashes! What if there are five less than fifty innocent people? Will you destroy the whole city because of those five?” -But Abraham persisted, saying, “What if only forty are found there?” -Then Abraham said, “Let not my Lord grow impatient if I go on. What if only thirty are found there?” -Still Abraham went on, “Since I have thus dared to speak to my Lord, what if there are no more than twenty?” -But he still persisted:“Please, let not my Lord grow angry if I speak up this last time. What if there are at least ten there?” HE replied, “For the sake of those ten, I will not destroy it.”
The Lord, like any good parent, is preparing his child for what is ahead. God did not need Abraham's pleading, to save people. HE does not need our pleading, but HE allows us to cooperate, so that we too may grow in faith, trust and love. A child that is given everything becomes selfish, self-centered and self-focused. A child that is challenged grows in confidence, cares for others and loves. Let us learn from Abraham: - He was persistent. Let us never grow weary in our prayer life - He was respectful. Let us always approach The Lord with humility. - He was meek. Let us always remember, YOU are God, i am not.
St. Junipero Serra, pray for us.
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