Reflections on Sodom and Gomorrah

Reading: Genesis 18:20–32

This Sunday’s (July 27 2025) first reading tells the story of Abraham praying for mercy on behalf of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. God tells Abraham that the cities have become so full of sin that judgment is coming. But Abraham dares to ask:

“Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are 50 innocent people? Or 40? Or 30? Or 10?”

And God says, again and again:

“If I find just 10 innocent people, I will not destroy the city.”

That line stopped me.

God was willing to spare the entire city if just ten innocent people were found. That shows us something really powerful:

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🙏 The Good Can Hold Back Judgment

This story tells us that a few good people—those who try to live justly and walk with God—can make a difference for everyone. Abraham’s prayer shows us that our choices matter not only for ourselves, but for our whole community.

Even in a sinful society, God looks for the faithful, and He listens to their prayers. Sometimes, just a small number of people following God can hold back a much bigger collapse.

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💔 But There Weren’t Ten

Despite Abraham’s prayer, the cities were destroyed. (Genesis 19:1–25) Why? Because not even ten righteous people could be found. Instead, God rescued Lot and his family, the only ones who hadn’t given in to the evil around them.

God didn’t ignore Abraham. He did what He said He would do. He showed mercy—but He removed the innocent first, and then let judgment fall.

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🏃‍♂️ A Warning for the Righteous Too

This part of the story carries a warning:

Sometimes, even the good must leave, because their presence is no longer enough to save a place that is collapsing. Or, if they stay too long, they might be hurt, or slowly drawn into the same sins.

Being faithful is no guarantee that life will be easy. But it does mean that God sees you, cares for you, and will act on your behalf—just like He did with Lot.

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🔁 The Tytler Cycle and Our Culture

There’s an old idea called the Tytler Cycle, which says that societies go through repeating stages:

Faith → Courage → Liberty → Abundance → Complacency → Apathy → Dependence → Bondage

This lines up with the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. When people forget God and live only for themselves, things start to fall apart. But if even a small group of people keep the faith, there’s still hope.

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🧭 What Does This Mean for Us?

This story isn’t just about ancient cities—it’s about us. Here are some questions we might ask ourselves:

• Am I one of the “ten”? Do I live in a way that brings mercy to my community?
• Do I pray for my city? Like Abraham, am I asking God to spare and help the people around me?

Am I awake to what’s going on? Am I willing to act, speak up, or leave a bad situation if God calls me to?

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💡 Final Thought

God is more merciful than we can imagine. He listens to prayers. He searches for the faithful. He saves. But He also warns.

This story reminds us that even one person trying to live rightly matters. And when there are ten, or twenty, or more—whole families, parishes, or communities—choosing to follow Christ in the middle of a confused world, they can be the very reason God still holds back destruction.

So… maybe the question isn’t what’s wrong with the world, but:

“Am I doing my part to be one of the ten?”

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🙏 Thanks for reading!
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Written with assistance from ChatGPT