After promising Abraham a son next year, God hesitates before revealing his plans for Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham urges God to be just to the threatened towns, where his nephew Lot lives. Later Lot defends his angelic guests from the depraved demands of the men of Sodom, and escapes before Sodom is destroyed.
The psalm expresses heartfelt thanks to the Lord for his justice and love, confident in his continual help.
Paul urges the Colossians, whom he has never visited, to be confident in their understanding of “God’s mystery”, Christ. As Gentiles they were seen as sinners, outside the Jewish Law. But now the Law is overridden, so, “buried in Christ”, they should follow only Christ. For Paul, the list of our debts, owed to God for failing to carry out our duties under the covenant, is graphically nailed to the Cross and so destroyed.
Luke’s version of the Our Father is shorter and more abrupt than Matthew’s. Both versions look to the end days, especially “Do not put us to the test”. “Daily bread” may refer to the Eucharist. Or it may mean “tomorrow’s bread” – the heavenly banquet, like the double portion of manna collected in the desert before the Sabbath. God promises to respond to all our requests, as he did to Abraham.
Psalm Response: On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.
(Gen 18:20-32, Ps 137(138):1-8, Col 2:12-14, Lk 11:1-13)