Show Notes
In this seventh week of ordinary time, we reflect on Genesis 18 and how our seemingly small actions can make a big difference to others.
Nuance’s Formed for Formation is a weekly liturgy to encourage all of us to be faithful to Christ in the public square. Join Case Thorp as he follows the Church calendar through the reading of Scripture, prayer, and short reflections on faith in all facets of public life.
For more on being faithful in the public square, make sure to subscribe for Nuance’s bi-weekly interviews with Christian leaders as they discuss everything from policy making to difficult conversations across worldviews at work to Christian art-creation.
Nuance’s podcasts are presented by The Collaborative, which provides diverse Christian media and collaboration services to equip industry/sector Christian leaders for effective contribution to the common good.
Learn more about The Collaborative:
Website: https://wecolabor.com/
Get to know Case: https://wecolabor.com/team/
Episode Transcript
In this seventh week after Pentecost, we pause to consider how seemingly small decisions and actions can make a difference. We may never fully be aware of this side of eternity, as we seek to reflect the ways of God’s kingdom to a world that does not acknowledge Him.
A reading from Genesis chapter 18 beginning in verse 20:
20 Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”
22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
26 The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27 Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?”
“If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”
29 Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?”
He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”
30 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?”
He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
31 Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?”
He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.”
32 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”
He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”
It’s never wrong to do the right thing, but sometimes it can seem, well, less than essential. If everyone is running the red light because there’s no traffic coming, does it really hurt to do the same? Other businesses adopt questionable practices when filing their tax return, so why not follow their playbook to save some money? Does going against the flow really make any difference? Certainly, if you consider the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. When God told Abraham he was going to destroy the two cities for their wickedness, he agreed to spare them if just ten righteous people could be found among them. Let’s not get sidetracked by the details of this account. Sodom and Gomorrah weren’t only judged because of the sexual immorality being practiced. In Ezekiel 16:49, God tells the prophet that part of Sodom’s downfall was because she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. Nevertheless, just a handful of godly people were enough to act as something of a shield. Living righteously before others doesn’t only point others to God’s truth, it also seems to afford them a measure of protection. Remember that Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 5 that they were the salt of the earth, a preservative element seen in this light. Being careful to obey the law isn’t about being pharisaical, it’s about being prophetic. Waiting until that light turns red on your drive to work isn’t splitting hairs or tithing herbs. Imagine you were one of the Japanese motorists who used the country’s expressway system when the automatic toll collection system went down for 36 hours recently. Would you have been among the 24,000 drivers who subsequently volunteered to pay for their usage? No one may see our small daily actions and practices as business owners or consumers, but they are seen and known by God.
The 85th Psalm:
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people
and covered all their sins.
You set aside all your wrath
and turned from your fierce anger.
Restore us again, God our Savior,
and put away your displeasure toward us.
Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your unfailing love, Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
I will listen to what God the Lord says;
he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.
Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.
Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
The Lord will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.
Let us pray with Clement of Rome.
You Lord, through your works have revealed the everlasting structure of the world. You Lord, created the earth. You are faithful throughout all generations, righteous in your judgments, marvelous in strength and majesty, wise in creating and prudent in establishing what exists. Good in all that is observed, and faithful to those who trust in you. Merciful and compassionate, Forgive us our sins and our injustices, our transgressions and our shortcomings. Do not take into account every sin of your servants, but cleanse us with the cleansing of your truth and direct our steps to walk in holiness and righteousness and purity of heart, and to do what is good and pleasing in your sight and in the sight of our rulers. Yes, Lord, let your face shine upon us in peace for our good, that we may be sheltered by your mighty hand and delivered from every sin by your uplifted arm. Deliver us as well from those who hate us unjustly. Give harmony and peace to us and to all who dwell on the earth, just as you did to our fathers when they reverently called upon you in faith and trust that we may be saved, while we render obedience to your Almighty and most excellent name and give harmony and peace to our rulers and governors on earth.
A reading from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 11, verses 1 through 13:
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”
Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
