Day 9: Sodom and Gomorrah

Genesis 18:1-15 The mysterious visitors who announced that Sarah would bear a child prefigure the Annunciation made by the Archangel Gabriel to Mary (WOW!!!! TYPOLOGY!!!!). What is not possible from a human perspective-Sarah was barren and beyond the age of childbearing-can become reality through THE POWER OF GOD. Sarah is seen as a precursor of Mary since they boh conceived sons through divine intervention and, moreover, their sons initiated the emergence of a new people. Some Fathers of the Church as well as Eastern iconography suggest the three figures may be a manifestation of THE HOLY TRINITY noting how Abraham encounters the LORD and SEES THREE MEN STANDING BEFORE HIM (cf. Gn 18:1-2). (CCC 148, 276, 332, 489, 706, 2571)


Ch 18:20 Their sin is very grave: Sin is a violation of God’s eternal law, whether committed by thought, word, or personal action. Such disobedience goes against the objective moral law, which is accessible by the light of NATURAL REASON. Any infraction of God’s Law has a destructive effect on the individual and in many instances extends to others. As sin spreads, it does great damage to the common good and society becomes adversely affected. This was the case with the sinfulness of Sodom and Gomorrah. (CCC 1871-1876)


Ch 19:23-28  The Moabites and Ammonites-the peoples said to be descended from the offspring who resulted from the incestuous rape of Lot by his daughters-would continue to figure in the history of Israel, often as its enemies. Incest is a gravely evil act against the Sixth Commandment. (CCC 2388)


Job 7:1-21 Job argued that suffering was everyone’s lot and hinted at its redemptive value. Experience of tribulations is intimately connected to the weakened human condition due to Original Sin. Inclination to sin, vulnerability to sickness, and the reality of death all comprise occasions of suffering. By coping with pain and setbacks, we can achieve a profound union with God and reflect more faithfully the heart of Christ. (CCC 409)


Ch 7:11-21 Acknowledging God’s absolute transcendence over all people, Job saw God as both a benefactor and tormentor. At various points in the book, it becomes clear that Job did not really dispute the connection between suffering and sin; rather, he was bewildered as to why God would choose to bring suffering upon an innocent person such as himself. His wonderment at the mysterious ways of God emphasizes that God’s wisdom and providence go beyond the realm of human understanding. (CCC 37, 1040)


Ch 7:17-18 Our lofty human dignity derives from the fact that God created us in his own image, thereby giving us the capacity to know him and love him. Having a mind and will, which are characteristic of an immortal soul, puts every human being at the summit of the created world. Given every human person’s capacity to know and love, EVERYBODY is called to have a personal relationship of intimate friendship with God by the gift of faith. (CCC 356-357, 1710-1715)


Ch 8:1-22 Shuhites were descendants of another son of Abraham who, like the Temanites, lived in the deserts of Arabia. Arguing from traditional teachings, Bildad scolded Job and essentially agreed with Eliphad’s analysis: God imparts suffering as a way of bringing the sinner to justice. If Job would repent, God would once again lavish Job with blessings. Bildad went further to point out that while his children had paid the full price of their sins with their lives, Job still had time to reconcile with God. Bildad simply argued that trials and tribulations are God’s response to sin. 


Proverbs 2:1-22 Wisdom is achieved by the desire to give glory to God as inspired by moral law. Both mind and heart must be properly disposed to fulfill God’s will…(CCC 25565, 2690)

(*The Didache Bible RSV-CE Ignatius Edition, 2006)

Key Event 9: Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:16-19:39)

The men of Sodom transgress hospitality and sexual morality (see Jude  1:7) by seeking to rape the angelic visitors of Lot (Gen 19:4-5, 8). Abraham interceded for Sodom, begging the Lord to spare the city if only ten righteous people could be found (Gen 18:22-23)-but ten were not found, and thus Sodom incurs God’s judgement.


(all red type in today’s lesson about GENESIS is sourced to NABRE 3rd ed Catholic Study Bible)







Prayer by Fr. Mike: "Father in Heaven we thank you so much. We thank you for your Word. We thank you for revealing your heart to us. We thank you for all of the gift that your Word is when it is proclaimed to us. We give you praise. We ask you to please, in the name of your Son Jesus Christ, Father in Heaven, receive our thanks. Receive our praise now. Amen." 

ANDREW'S PARALLELS

It's a simple comparison to make between the story of Sarah in Genesis, and Mary's cousin Elizabeth in Luke 1.  Both were barren and old, both were given a miraculous conception, and more.  Add, then, Mary into the comparison.  Considering her perpetual virginity, she would not bear children naturally, yet she received a miraculous birth as well.  The difference being her child is the Christ, and she said, "yes" where the others included doubt.