Genesis 18 20 Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, 21 I will go down to see whether they have done altogether[a] according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”

Genesis 18 22 So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but the Lord still stood before Abraham. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose 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?

Genesis 18 25 Far 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?” 26 And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

Genesis 18 27 Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose 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.” 29 Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.”

Genesis 18  30 Then 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.” 31 He 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.” 

Genesis 18 32 Then 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.” 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

The Third Posture (or) On Behalf of Others Rick Wright 10th Sunday of Pentecost (C) July 24 2016

September 2015 We have to wait and see. We do not know. TNCC at Our Lady of the Lake They have done everything they can do Cannot fix the problem by ourselves… You prayed

Genesis 18 22 The men turn away and go toward Sodom, but the Lord remains standing before Abraham.[a] 23 Then Abraham draws near and says: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare[b] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?25 Far 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?”

We interrupt these stories… Genesis 18 God + angels visit Genesis 19 Angels visit City is destroyed Genesis 18:17-33 interrupts 18 -> 19 (?) God says nothing about Sodom and Gomorrah until 18:20

Abraham God chooses Abraham Remember Genesis 12:1-3? Purpose + promises of God Abraham as model of faith-trust in God Abraham will do justice and righteousness Will you really kill…? How horrible! Will the one who judges the earth not do justice?

What Abraham does Intercedes Does not deny problem in Sodom TOEFL word = act or speak on behalf of someone Does not deny problem in Sodom How horrible! חָלְלָה לְךָ מַעֲשֹׂת הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה God listens and responds Lord… have mercy on them

The third posture Posture? First posture = Psalm 82 Second = Luke 10 How we sit or stand… the position we take First posture = Psalm 82 Provide justice and protect the weak??? Repentance… self-examination Second = Luke 10 Martha + Mary Sit and listen… attention Third = posture of prayer… on behalf of others

Do!!! Pray??? We want to go and do something Be humble and listen Pray… for opportunities For wisdom => What? How? When? Do we recognize our limits? Third posture = prayer… and… Posture of the soul… toward God… for others

Saint Silouan says Russian 1866-1938 The person who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God. But I say to you… Love your enemies. Pray for those who attack you.