Genesis 18:20-32; Colossians 2:12-14; Luke 11:1-13
Negotiating with God? Why does Abraham have this conversation with God?
In the story we heard last Sunday, Abraham had been visited by the Lord and two angels. Now, the men, probably the same two angels, visit Sodom and Gomorrah to find out if the people there are as bad as their reputation.
Abraham has just received a huge grace from the Lord. Not only did the Lord and two angels visit him and accept his hospitality, but they also promised to Sarah that she would bear a son.
As a righteous man, Abraham doesn’t want innocent people to be punished. When he hears about God’s plans of destroying a whole city, he interferes. First, with a cautious question, suggesting that 50 good people would be killed with the sinners and from there down to ten people. Abraham almost seems to chastise God when he challenges him with the question “Will the judge of the whole earth not administer justice?” God listens to Abraham’s arguments and promises to spare the city if there were ten good people. This is the end of the conversation as far as we know. In Judaism, the number ten becomes important. It is the number that identifies a minyan – the quorum of ten Jewish adults required for certain religious obligations. They could start a new prayerful community. The righteousness of a few will save the city.
In the Letter to the Colossians, the reasoning of few saving many is similar. Knowing about this scene between Abraham and God, the Letter gives hope for forgiveness thanks to one righteous man: Jesus Christ. Our sins and any non-compliances with the Law are forgiven though Jesus’ death on the cross. Through baptism, we are buried with Christ and given new life. The new life is not necessarily bound to the laws that existed up to then. There is no need for gathering ten people. One is enough. One person who is baptised into the death of Christ will raise together with Christ.
In the Gospel according to Luke, the Gospel where prayers and meals play an important role, Jesus teaches the Lord’s Prayer. In this prayer, he reiterates the message of forgiveness for one another when he says “forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us”. The prayer is based on other prayers and the ten commandments which the disciples would have been familiar with, but he doesn’t just refer to the Law. He gives a practical example: a man receives an unexpected visitor and can’t feed him.
As we heard last week, hospitality is crucial – especially in an area that can be inhospitable. The host is obliged to act and provide hospitality, but, in this case, he is unprepared. If hospitality is a commandment, then unpreparedness could be a sin.
Would his friend leave him outside the house, begging for support? Would his friend just say: “it is your sin – you should have prepared yourself”? Jesus is asking for forgiveness. He is asking to help one another even when the other one is suffering the consequences of their own negligence. Jesus’ story mentions that the person asking for help is no stranger, he is not only a neighbour, but a friend. The details in the story show that the one who helps might have to overcome inconveniences such as unbolting a heavy door before being able to help. It is interesting that Jesus asks for perseverance.
When we are asking for something, we might just ask once or twice and then turn around and be angry at the person we asked who didn’t reply. Jesus recommends asking until we receive. Abraham could have just asked God about saving one or two righteous people, but he rather sees the chance for all sinners to be saved by a few righteous.
Abraham is a righteous man; he is an example of going beyond one’s own struggles and truly looking for justice for everyone.
This is a wonderful message of hope. It is never too late to forgive and to be forgiven, and the community can help the individuals to be forgiven and have new life. God’s door is never bolted.
Ask and you will receive. This is what a prayer is. You might not receive exactly what you want, but you will receive what God considers right for you.
BM
