Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/106

 Holy God. He utterly  destroyed  the  wicked  cities  from  off  the  face of the  earth,  and  made  the  whole  neighbourhood  desolate  so  that  all men might  know  and  fear  His  terrible  justice. “Reducing the  cities of the  Sodomites  and  Gomorrhites  to  ashes,  God  condemned  them  to be  overthrown”,  says  Saint  Peter,  “making  them  an  example  to  those that should  after  act  wickedly”  (2  Pet.  2,  6). The punishment  of  Sodom and Gomorrha  is,  therefore,  always  held  up  as  an  example  of  the divine justice.

God's haired  of  impurity.  This  sin  having  been  the  chief  cause of the  destruction  of  the  cities,  you  can  see  how  hateful  it  is  in  the eyes of  God,  and  how  severely  He  punishes  it. Impurity is  the  most shameful of  all  sins,  and  an  abomination  before  God. It leads  to  many other sins,  and  easily  results  in  impenitence  and  impiety,  as  was  the case with  the  inhabitants  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrha. Almighty God  does not always  punish  it  in  this  world,  but  He  will  certainly  do  so  in  the next world. “Do not  err; neither  fornicators  nor  adulterers  shall  possess the kingdom  of  God”  (1  Cor.  6,  9).

The duty  of  intercessory  prayer.  Intercession  for  the  living  and  the dead is  a spiritual  work  of  mercy. Love prompted  Abraham  to  pray for the  wicked  Sodomites:  love  should  pronipt  you  to  pray  for  others, for your  parents,  brothers  and  sisters,  and  for  your  spiritual  and  temporal superiors; but  especially  for  sinners,  that  they  may  have  the  grace  of conversion,  and  may  not  be  eternally  lost. “Pray for  one  another  that you may  be  saved”  (James  5,  16).

The characteristics  of  prayer. Abraham  prayed  with  fervour,  with humility, with  confidence,  and  with  perseverance,  making  his  petition six times.

The power  of  prayer.  Abraham’s  prayer  was  not  made  in  vain, for Almighty  God  granted  it,  in  so  far  that,  had  there  been  ten  just men in  Sodom,  the  whole  city  would  have  been  spared. “The continual prayer of  a just  man  availeth  much”  (James  5,  16).

Lot's steadfastness  is  worthy  of  our  admiration. He lived  for  twenty years in  the  wicked  city,  and  did  not  let  himself  be  led  away  into  sin, but remained  firm  in  what  was  right,  and  brought  up  his  children  in the  holy  fear  of  God. Therefore, Holy  Scripture,  in  allusion  to  him, says: “The  Lord  knoweth  how  to  deliver  the  godly  from  temptation” (2 Pet.  2,  9);  because  they  pray  and  co-operate  with  grace.

Sorrow on  account  of  sin. Lot’s  fellow-citizens  in  Sodom  “vexed his just  soul  with  unjust  works”  (2  Pet.  2, 8). The sins  and  crimes which he  was  obliged  to  witness  hurt  his  holy  soul,  because  God  was offended by  them,  and  many  souls  were  eternally  lost. We, far  from jesting about  the  sins  of  others,  should  mourn  over  them. We shall knowr by  our  conduct  in  such  cases,  whether  or  no  we  have  a true  love for God  and  our  neighbour. “Blessed are  they  who  mourn.”