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.