Sodom and Gomorrah and the Mercy of God--
During this time of the year, every other year, passages from the book of Genesis are read at the weekday Masses.  One of the many interesting scripture accounts is the story of Abraham and his encounter with The Lord regarding Sodom and Gomorrah.  I find it most intriguing that The Lord  was willing to not destroy Sodom and the other cities in the plain if only 10 innocent people could be found.  (Genesis 18:16-33)

I have been unable to find the approximate population of Sodom at the time; but if the population was only 100 people, ten people would only represent 10% of the population, if 1,000 people only 1% and if 10,000 people only .1%

This incident tells me how loving and forgiving God is.  Not only that but that the faithfulness of good persons influences the mercy of God.  It supports what Saint Paul wrote in Colossians 1:24 that "In my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's affliction."  Thus it leads me to conclude that good people through the merits of Jesus' suffering and death are able to join Him in His redemption of others.

This conclusion supports the value of good people offering up  their pain and suffering for Christ, in union with Christ for the benefit of others.  After all, if a person is in the "state of grace", i.e., in union with God their is life flowing between God and the person.  As Jesus stated, He is the vine, we are the branches.    

Discipleship

The Mass Scripture Readings for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C deal with "discipleship".   Specifically, 1 Kings 19:16-21; Psalm 16; Galatians 5-1, 13-18 and Luke 9:51-62.

I listened to the reading of these passages and my Parish's Pastoral Vicar's homily on them at Mass this past Sunday, and I read meditations on the topic in the June issue of the monthly periodical "the WORD among us" and the book "In CONVERSATION with God, Volume Four".  These printed meditations basically provided a more extensive insight into what my pastor summarized so well.  

In a few sentences he had stated, being disciples of Christ we can  not force others to accept/believe what we do; we can only invite them.  Regarding our own behavior/faith journey--i.e., being "followers of Christ", he went on; there are three characteristics to consider (so well exemplified in Luke 9:57-62).  1.  We are not to expect human recompense for following Jesus.  2.  We can not place any conditions on our following Jesus.  3.  There is no turning back if want to be followers of Jesus.

In light of the last point, the statement of Jesus in verse 62 regarding a person plowing would have resonated with the people to whom He was speaking.  It was noted in the meditation "In CONVERSATION with God" that Jesus' audience would have known that any farmer who took his attention off his plow in the hard Palestinian soil would quickly find his furrows out of line.

Though the three points noted above are logical; knowing this does not make it easier for a person.  One can only pray that with the Grace of God one will persevere.             

I'm Back

Dear Faithful Readers.   I took a two and one half months sabbatical as I had many things going on.  I expect to find myself in the same boat mid-September through mid-October. 

One thing I did during the Spring sabbatical was to go on a two and one half days "Opus Dei" silent retreat which I may write about in the future.

I'm happy to be back!