Intercede

The Final Test…

Victory, that is, true happiness—joy—can never be had in isolation, or at the expense of another’s wellbeing.

The readings for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time call attention not only to the degree of God’s mercy and compassion, but also to the Lord’s openness to dialogue and mutual respect, as well as calling attention to the degree that living through and embracing the way of love, mercy, and compassion on behalf of others makes all the difference, playing part in salvation—individual and collective.

In the first reading (Genesis 18:20-32), there is discussion between the Lord and Abraham about Sodom and Gomorrah, the twin sin cities. The Lord can surely do whatever, whenever. However, that is not God’s way. In this passage, we see another example of God engaging with humanity, in response to seeing what’s going on in the two cities.

What do you make of the Lord desiring to bring Abraham along as he looks more closely?

The Lord not only listens to what Abraham has to say, but also receives it without offense, and honestly considers it with great openness and humility.

What’s it like to put yourself in Abraham’s shoes? Envision yourself in the setting and saying to the Lord:

“Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
Suppose there were fifty righteous people in the city; would you really sweep away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people within it?
Far be it from you to do such a thing, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike! Far be it from you! Should not the judge of all the world do what is just?” (v. 23-25).

In the verses that follow, Abraham continues to question the Lord. He asks 5 more times, referring to equally less quantities of righteous among the unrighteous. This back and forth ends with the following:

“But he persisted: ‘Please, do not let my Lord be angry if I speak up this last time. What if ten are found there?’ For the sake of the ten, he replied, I will not destroy it.” (v. 32).

Throughout this passage, one can see that the Lord does not grow impatient with Abraham, nor does he shut down the conversation, berate or demean him.

What strikes you most about the exchange between the Lord and Abraham?

The passage in the first reading can be referred to as “Abraham intercedes for Sodom.”

Think of a situation that you’re aware of and that is of concern to you. Pray for grace to receive the Lord’s view with openness and humility, without taking offense or turning away from questions and challenges but instead facing them with patience and a focus on what is truly right and just.

In the Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 138:1-3,6-8), the response is, “Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.” (v. 3a). The entirety of verse 3 is,

“On the day I cried out, you answered; you strengthened my spirit.”

Reflecting on what you intercede for, spend some time crying out to the Lord, and expressing a desire for your spirit to be strengthened in the Lord. Invite the Lord to help you to see the places where you and He are on the same page, and the places where you may vary.

In verses 12-14 of chapter 2 of the Letter of St. Paul to the Colossians, the second reading, we are reminded of the life-giving power of being baptized in the Lord. Nothing is insurmountable to spiritual wellbeing in and through the Lord. St. Paul writes in part,

“And even when you were dead in transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions;” (v. 13).

Notice which phrase in the verse above grabs your attention. Considering this phrase amid earthly cares, how might the Lord be inviting you to greater peace and harmony? And how might you extend greater peace and harmony to others?

In the Gospel (Luke 11:1-13), Jesus’s response to a disciple’s request of, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” (v. 1) is:

“When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread
and forgive us our sins
for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,
and do not subject us to the final test.” (v. 2-4)

It’s important to remember that to live authentically and to truly overcome obstacles, one must consider who is being lifted up from words/actions. How is something giving glory to God? Who is benefiting and to what extent? And, in what ways does it fit in with the Lord’s example of love, mercy, and compassion to oneself and others?

Going back to the concern you were praying about, ask the Lord to help you to see (or to reaffirm for you) what’s most important, or what the final test is, in the situation. Take time to share and rest in the Lord with your thoughts and feelings on this, and to receive and desire to carry forward His.

The Gospel passage continues with Jesus giving an example of two friends, one asking the other for loaves of bread in the middle of the night. Jesus says,

“I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.” (v. 8)

Returning to your prayer, where, or with whom, does the bulk of your concern lie? Is it with yourself, others, a mix, or something else? Ask the Lord to reveal to you, from moment to moment throughout each day, the spot(s) to invest your time and energy. Where is greater persistence needed? How might you need the Lord’s help in this area?

“And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
What father among you would hand his son a snake
when he asks for a fish?
Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” – Luke 11:9-13

Unto the Ages…

Some days the clouds rise upward, an example of striving and reaching higher, as if believing in the best, for the best. Knowing better, doing better. On others though, they seem to drift across the sky, as if allowing themselves to be carried along in a somewhat orderly, but carefree kind of way. Maybe that’s good too.

There are also days when the clouds seem to sit in place, still as can be. Then there are ones where they seem to vanish entirely, leaving only a shade of blue or gray behind. Although perhaps tempting to toss these kinds of days, where the clouds seem less than what they can be, aside, they also hold a message or way of being that can be very much in need.

At the end of a week that saw the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, who signified an age and a large part of the history around the world, on the same day as the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and that leads into the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks and tragic events, impacting so many around the world, the readings for the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ex 32:7-11, 13-14; Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19; 1 Tm 1:12-17; and Lk 15:1-32), remind us about the truth of how relevant and valued we are to God and each other.

With a heart and mind drawn to history, let’s focus on the first reading and the passage in the Book of Exodus in which Moses implores God to refrain from taking wrath against the Israelites who are falling away and have been worshipping false idols. We can see that Moses intercedes on their behalf by speaking the truth of their shared history with God and calling for that to take precedence. This is something he keeps returning to and keeps trying to remind others about, along the journey. Moses remembers aloud God’s promise of life—a long line of descendants—and a place to live—land as a perpetual heritage—to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. This is not to say that the people who have gone astray can or should do whatever they want, but rather to highlight the importance and necessity of commitment to each other and God as well as for faithfulness to include interceding on behalf of others for what is truly good and just. It’s a real sense of “you are our God… we are your people… together, we belong to you and each other.”

God listens to Moses, considers what he has to say, and turns away from the wrath he had intended to do. Through it all, the key is that Moses holds onto the truth, we are all relevant and valued—and refuses to be separated from the Israelites or from God. It’s all about the attitude toward relationship and unity. A great example of how One can make a difference.

So, the question that repeats itself throughout the ages, regardless of what’s happening in the clouds or the landscape all around me is… Is my desire to be united with God and others greater than my desire for the things that ultimately serve mostly or only me? And, in what ways do I believe in and commit to the best, for the best?

The Lord said to Moses,
“Go down at once to your people,
whom you brought out of the land of Egypt,
for they have become depraved.
They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them,
making for themselves a molten calf and worshiping it,
sacrificing to it and crying out,
‘This is your God, O Israel,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt!’
“I see how stiff-necked this people is, ” continued the Lord to Moses.
Let me alone, then,
that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them.
Then I will make of you a great nation.”

But Moses implored the Lord, his God, saying,
“Why, O Lord, should your wrath blaze up against your own people,
whom you brought out of the land of Egypt
with such great power and with so strong a hand?
Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
and how you swore to them by your own self, saying,
‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky;
and all this land that I promised,
I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.'”
So the Lord relented in the punishment
he had threatened to inflict on his people. – Ex 32:7-11, 13-14