HOW GREAT AN OUTCRY!

XVII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gn 18:20-32

Sodom and Gomorrah

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is a story of depravation and punishment. Because of their "grievous sin", there was an "outcry" against them, which reached God.

Gn 19:1-11 presents the depravity of those two cities: they did not see with good eyes the presence among them of Lot, who was a foreigner; they did not respect the sacred laws of hospitality, and they were ready to use violence against Lot and his guests and to rape them. It was not only a question of homosexuality. Their hearts and minds had become so corrupt that they only care about their own self-satisfaction, and being ready to do anything to get it.

Today’s outcry

The outcry can still be heard today, not the one of Sodom and Gomorrah, which have disappeared long ago, but the outcry of the poor and the oppressed, and the outcry of all those who suffer, because of the corrupt society in which they live.

God hears the outcry, and he will not remain silent and patient for ever. One day, he will take action.

Our world is being corrupted by sin. The sin of war, fruit of hatred, envy, jealousy and the lust for power and wealth. The sin of greed that makes profit at all costs the supreme value that moves companies and nations. The sin of violence against the weak and the defenceless. The sin of child abuse which scars their bodies and destroys the innocence of their hearts and minds.

The sin of exploitation, which transforms people into tools at the service of others. The sin of individualism that  destroys the harmony and communion among people. The sin of self-indulgence that leads to care only about my own satisfaction and pleasure.

Abraham’s intercession

However, this Sunday's first reading only mentions the outcry caused by the corruption in Sodom and Gomorrah and then concentrates on Abraham's friendship with God and on his intercession for those people who had lost all self-respect. If we want to maintain or regain our self-respect, we should have a good look at Abraham. He was a not a perfect man, but he grew in goodness as he grew old. Being a foreigner himself, he gave a great welcomed to the three travellers who passed by his tent. His relationship with God grew in friendship and love to such an extent that he felt most confident to speak to God on behalf of people who did not belong to his tribe and his nation. 

We are in need of intercessors. And like Abraham, we should not be afraid of bothering God with our requests. Jesus said: "Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you." (Lk 11:9).