Daily Readings - Sun Jul 24 2022

²⁰Then the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave,²¹I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know."²²So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD.²³Then Abraham drew near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?²⁴Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?²⁵Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?"²⁶And the LORD said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake."²⁷Abraham answered and said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.²⁸Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?" And he said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there."²⁹Again he spoke to him and said, "Suppose forty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of forty I will not do it."³⁰Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there." He answered, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there."³¹He said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it."³²Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it."

Colossians

Chapter 2

¹²having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.¹³And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,¹⁴by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Luke

Chapter 11

¹Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples."²And he said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.³Give us each day our daily bread,⁴and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation."⁵And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves,⁶for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him';⁷and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything'?⁸I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.⁹And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.¹⁰For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.¹¹What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;¹²or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?¹³If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit 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.