Daily Readings - Sun Jul 24 2022

²⁰Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous²¹that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know."²²The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.²³Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?²⁴What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?²⁵Far be it from you to do such a thing-to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"²⁶The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake."²⁷Then Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes,²⁸what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?If I find forty-five there," he said, "I will not destroy it."²⁹Once again he spoke to him, "What if only forty are found there?" He said, "For the sake of forty, I will not do it."³⁰Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?" He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."³¹Abraham said, "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?" He said, "For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it."³²Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?" He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."

Colossians

Chapter 2

¹²having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.¹³When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,¹⁴having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

Luke

Chapter 11

¹One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."²He said to them, "When you pray, say: "'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.³Give us each day our daily bread.⁴Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. '"⁵Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,⁶because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'⁷"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.'⁸I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.⁹"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.¹⁰For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.¹¹"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?¹²Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?¹³If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven 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.