17TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

First Reading: Genesis 18:20-32

Background/Context

In this reading, the Lord God and two angels, in disguise, visited Abraham, who welcomed them. As Abraham gradually discovers their identities, they start a trip to nearby Sodom, and the ever hospitable Abraham accompanies them. God decides, since He already promised Abraham greatness, to tell Abraham of His plan to destroy Sodom. This raises the question why God wanted to destroy Sodom in the first place. The short answer is the residents' inhospitability (something loathed by Middle Easter people) and their sexual perversity (despised throughout the Old Testament).

Message/Meaning of the Reading

The next question is why was the destruction of Sodom to be an all-or-nothing thing? Why not spare the innocent and just punish the guilty ones? At the time this was written, the author's community did not have our highly developed sense of the individual or one's individual destiny. This moral and religious innovation was to be a gift of later prophets and sages. This unparalleled story has a two-fold purpose: to show the bargaining power of Abraham, the first Jew, and to demonstrate the mercy of Yahweh, the loving God; the latter being more important. The underlying message is that God can be influenced by His people.

How to Proclaim

The lector must put oneself mostly in the character of Abraham, but also in the character of the Lord God. In his opening paragraph, Abraham must sound both respectful and persuasive. So he flatters God: For be it from you... Should not the judge of all the world act with justice? Make these words sound like shameless flattery. Exaggerate it!

Make God sound solemn and judicious in reply. Then revert to obsequiousness for Abraham's second round in the negotiations. Back to solemn: I will not destroy it, if I find forty there. The pace quickens and each of Abraham's bids becomes shorter and more daring. Maintain the sense of drama with pauses at each change of speaker. The congregation should be asking, "Now, what's God going to say?" and "Good grief, is Abraham ever going to stop?"

Word Watch

Sodom sod'-əm

Gomorrah gə-môr'-ä

Abraham ā'-bra-ham

Responsorial Psalm: LORD, ON THE DAY I CALLED FOR HELP, YOU ANSWERED ME.

The responsorial psalm reflects Abraham's prayer which was answered because of his persistent faith.

Second Reading: Colossians 2:12-14

Background/Context

The Christians of Colossae were exposed to a variety of philosophical and theological teachings, many of which were incompatible to the gospel. Two Sundays ago, Paul had to establish that Christ was superior to any other possible mediator between humanity and God. Then last Sunday, we saw that Christ in us is our hope of glory.

Message/Meaning of the Reading

Today, the question is "How do we get Christ in us?" Paul's answer is that when we were buried in the waters of baptism, we were united with Jesus in his saving death. And when we emerged from the saturating waters, we were joined to Christ in his resurrection. Paul assures that the ritual of baptism obviously simulates burial and resurrection.

How to Proclaim

In the first sentence, emphasize the words: buried and raised. Then pause before the next sentence, because it states that not even our sins could keep this burial and resurrection from having their saving effect. The sentence goes on but the imagery changes abruptly. Paul speaks of something like a modern criminal indictment: the bond against us, which is not simply overturned by the staid pronouncement of an appeals court. Rather, in a most vivid image, the indictment is: snatched away and nailed to the cross! Remember, a cross was not used merely to execute people but to humiliate them utterly in the process. So there is nothing more null and void than something nailed to a cross. So say this sentence triumphantly.

Word Watch

Colossians kə-läsh'-əns

Gospel Luke 11:1-13

And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Reflections

God's love is never limited by our lack of love. No matter who or what we are, God must be who God is: the universe's most loving Person. Persistence in prayer can open the oceans of God's mercy for us.