Daily Readings - Sun Jul 24 2022

²⁰And so the Lord said, "The outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah has been multiplied, and their sin has become exceedingly grievous²¹I will descend and see whether they have fulfilled the work of the outcry that has reached me, or whether it is not so, in order that I may know.²²And they turned themselves from there, and they went toward Sodom. Yet in truth, Abraham still stood in the sight of the Lord²³And as they drew near, he said: "Will you destroy the just with the impious²⁴If there were fifty of the just in the city, will they perish with the rest? And will you not spare that place for the sake of fifty of the just, if they were in it²⁵Far be it from you to do this thing, and to kill the just with the impious, and for the just to be treated like the impious. No, this is not like you. You judge all the earth; you would never make such a judgment.²⁶And the Lord said to him, "If I find in Sodom fifty of the just in the midst of the city, I will release the entire place because of them.²⁷And Abraham responded by saying: "Since now I have begun, I will speak to my Lord, though I am dust and ashes²⁸What if there were five less than fifty of the just? Would you, despite the forty-five, eliminate the entire city?" And he said, "I will not eliminate it, if I find forty-five there.²⁹And again he said to him, "But if forty were found there, what would you do?" He said, "I will not strike, for the sake of the forty.³⁰"I ask you," he said, "not to be angry, Lord, if I speak. What if thirty were found there?" He responded, "I will not act, if I find thirty there.³¹"Since now I have begun," he said, "I will speak to my Lord. What if twenty were found there?" He said, "I will not put to death, for the sake of the twenty.³²"I beg you," he said, "not to be angry, Lord, if I speak yet once more. What if ten were found there?" And he said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.

Colossians

Chapter 2

¹²You have been buried with him in baptism. In him also, you have risen again through faith, by the work of God, who raised him up from the dead¹³And when you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he enlivened you, together with him, forgiving you of all transgressions¹⁴and wiping away the handwriting of the decree which was against us, which was contrary to us. And he has taken this away from your midst, affixing it to the Cross

Luke

Chapter 11

¹And it happened that, while he was in a certain place praying, when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.²And he said to them: "When you are praying, say: Father, may your name be kept holy. May your kingdom come³Give us this day our daily bread⁴And forgive us our sins, since we also forgive all who are indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.⁵And he said to them: "Which of you will have a friend and will go to him in the middle of the night, and will say to him: ‘Friend, lend me three loaves⁶because a friend of mine has arrived from a journey to me, and I do not have anything to set before him.⁷And from within, he would answer by saying: ‘Do not disturb me. The door is closed now, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give it to you.⁸Yet if he will persevere in knocking, I tell you that, even though he would not get up and give it to him because he is a friend, yet due to his continued insistence, he will get up and give him whatever he needs⁹And so I say to you: Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you¹⁰For everyone who asks, receives. And whoever seeks, finds. And whoever knocks, it shall be opened to him¹¹So then, who among you, if he asks his father for bread, he would give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he would give him a serpent, instead of a fish¹²Or if he will ask for an egg, he would offer to him a scorpion¹³Therefore, if you, being evil, know how to give good things to your sons, how much more will your Father give, from heaven, a spirit of goodness to those who ask him?

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on prayer, mercy, and our relationship with God. In the first reading from Genesis, Abraham intercedes with God on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah, negotiating for the lives of the just. This passage highlights Abraham’s compassion and his boldness in prayer, showing that even the righteous can plead for others. It also reveals God’s willingness to listen and show mercy, even in the face of great sin. The second reading from Colossians reminds us of the transformative power of baptism and faith. Through Christ’s resurrection, we are forgiven and set free from the burdens of sin. This passage encourages us to live in the light of our new life in Christ, trusting in His mercy and grace. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us how to pray with confidence and persistence. The Lord’s Prayer, which He gives us, is a model of humility, trust, and dependence on God. The parable of the persistent friend at midnight reminds us that God, unlike the reluctant friend, is always ready to respond to our needs. Jesus assures us that our heavenly Father, who is infinitely good, will give us what we need when we ask with faith. These readings teach us to approach prayer with boldness and trust, knowing that God is always listening. They also remind us of the importance of interceding for others, as Abraham did, and of living with gratitude for the mercy and forgiveness we have received through Christ. Let us pray with persistence, trust in God’s goodness, and live as people who have been transformed by His grace.