Daily Readings - Sun Jul 27 2025

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

In today’s readings, we encounter powerful themes of prayer, mercy, and trust in God’s justice. The first reading from Genesis presents Abraham’s bold intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham, trusting in God’s justice, negotiates with God, seeking to spare the cities for the sake of the righteous. This passage highlights Abraham’s compassion and deep faith, showing how he steps into a mediator role, pleading for mercy. The second reading from Colossians shifts our focus to the theological reality of our union with Christ through baptism. It emphasizes the forgiveness of sins and the cancellation of our spiritual debt, illustrating God’s grace and the new life we receive through Christ’s resurrection. This passage underscores the transformative power of God’s mercy in our lives. In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus teaches the disciples the Lord’s Prayer, emphasizing a personal relationship with the Father. The parable of the persistent friend reinforces the importance of perseverance in prayer, using a human analogy to illustrate God’s responsiveness. Just as a friend will eventually respond to persistence, God, who is infinitely good, will answer our prayers. These readings interconnect through themes of God’s mercy, justice, and the power of prayer. Abraham’s intercession reflects a form of prayer, seeking mercy for others. Colossians reveals the result of that mercy through Christ, while Luke teaches how to approach God in prayer. Together, they guide us to trust in God’s justice and mercy, encouraging us to be persistent in prayer and to intercede for others. In our daily lives, these teachings remind us to approach God with faith and persistence, trusting in His goodness. We are called to pray with confidence, knowing that our Heavenly Father hears us and desires to give us what is good. Let us embrace the lessons of these readings, deepening our prayer life and trusting in God’s plan, as we strive to live out His mercy and justice in our world.