By Three(?) We Are Saved Rick Wright Church of the Nations July 28, th Sunday Pentecost (C)

They brought this on themselves? New Orleans 2005 – Hurricane Katrina Detroit 2013 – Bankruptcy – No money to pay people When we see people or cities suffer?

Genesis 18 Then the Lord says, “Because the cry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sins are so terrible – I will go down to see if they have done as badly as the cry that has come to me. If not – I will know.” So the men(?) turn from there and go toward Sodom. But the Lord stands before Abraham.

Genesis 18 – God visits Abraham and Sarah Genesis 19 – God visits Sodom – Sodom destroyed by fire and earthquake The Lord says, Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Since Abraham will become a great and mighty nation and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him? No – because I have chosen him. So he will teach his children and his household to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice.

What Abraham says Will you really destroy the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in that city – will you destroy the place and not forgive(?) it because of them? How horrible for you to do this thing. To kill the righteous with the wicked. How horrible for you! Will the one who judges the earth not do justice? Abraham argues with God Is this righteousness and justice???

A new idea? If I find fifty good people in the city – I will forgive the whole place because of them. Collective guilt – One sins -> everyone suffers One sins -> one suffers Collective mercy! – One is good -> everyone is forgiven! How do I act/feel/think toward others? Abraham prays for others – even sinners

By three(?) the world is saved Kallistos Ware Saint Barsanuphios of Gaza lived during the sixth century. He wrote a letter in which he says that at the present time there are three persons whose prayers protected this wicked and sinful generation from the punishment of God. And because of these three persons and their prayers – the world continues in being. Two of them are completely unknown to us. The third was a monk who lived in the desert.

And us? Primary vocation of Christian church Like Abraham we pray for others Those who sin or suffer Lord have mercy