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Environmental
Stewardship Commission
(MEESC) |
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Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota
Lectionary
Reflection
Year C, Proper 12, Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture)
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: Genesis
18:20-33
The LORD said to Abraham, "How
great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their
sin! I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according
to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know."
So the men turned from there,
and went toward Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the LORD.
Then Abraham came near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous
with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will
you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous
who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous
with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that
from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" And the
LORD said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive
the whole place for their sake." Abraham answered, "Let me take it upon
myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five
of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for
lack of five?" And he said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five
there." Again he spoke to him, "Suppose forty are found there." He answered,
"For the sake of forty I will not do it." Then he said, "Oh do not let
the Lord be angry if I speak. Suppose thirty are found there." He answered,
"I will not do it, if I find thirty there." He said, "Let me take it upon
myself to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there." He answered,
"For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it." Then he said, "Oh do not
let the Lord be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found
there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it." And the
LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham; and Abraham
returned to his place.
Reflection on Genesis 18:20-33
by the Rev Wanda Copeland
The background for the recounting of this interaction between Abraham
and the Lord actually begins at v.16. The Lord is wondering aloud
if Abraham should be informed about what is going to happen to Sodom.
The Lord plans to destroy the inhabitants and town of Sodom for their moral
depravity (which continues into Chapter 19). This is a first in our
Scriptures. These people are the first to be removed from the land on which
they dwell because of their moral character. Place is so significant
for any people. Where we live and move and have our being, substantially
impacts who we are and how we function in the world. It shapes how
we see ourselves, others and our world view. "Environment" doesn't
just mean how many siblings we have or whether both our parents worked
outside the home. It also encompasses whether we live on a lake,
in the mountains, or in the inner city. So also, we have a very real
impact on our environment. This story boldly states that what we
say and do does matter. Abraham asks will the city be destroyed
if there are only fifty righteous people in the entire town. Yes,
even if there are only fifty people doing the work of God, desiring and
striving to live according to God's commands, God will spare all the others.
Abraham continues to ask until the Lord acknowledges that if only ten faithful
people can be found, the city will be spared. When we are tempted
to believe that we can't make a difference, this conversation between Abraham
and the Lord reminds us that we have to be persistent, faithful and let
our light shine. We can make a difference in our world, even in the
seemingly insignificant things we do. So, stop to pick up that trash
on your walk, use less water at home, carpool. It does matter!
To Reflections on other Readings for this
Sunday:
Old Testament
(Hebrew Scripture)
Genesis 18:20-33 |
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Wanda
Copeland is the rector of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Elk River,
MN. Wanda was the second co-chair of the Commission (1996-2001) and Chair
of the Episcopal Ecological Network
(2001-2004)She originally wrote this reflection in 1998. She and we welcome
your comments. Please address your comments or additional reflections
to Wanda,
our Webverger or any other
MEESC
member, or mail them to:
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MEESC
Holy Trinity Church
Box 65
Elk River, MN 55330-0065 USA |
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This page last updated 04-07-20.