Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/107

 Guardian angels.  Holy  angels  protected  Lot  and  his  family. Lot’s wife did  not  take  heed  to  their  warning;  therefore,  she  perished.

The torments  of  hell. The  burning  of  the  wicked  cities  gives  us a faint  idea  of  that  hell  into  which  the  impenitent  Sodomites  were  cast for ever. The torments  of  the  burning  inhabitants  of  Sodom  and Gomorrha were  very  terrible; but  the  torments  of  the  lost  souls  in  hell are far  more  terrible. The fire  of  Sodom  was  kindled  from  heaven; the fire of  hell  is  kindled  by  the  anger  of  God. The shrieks  of  the  burning Sodomites were  very  terrible,  but  the  wailing  and  gnashing  of  teeth  of the  damned  are  far  worse. The bodies  of  the  Sodomites  were  burnt and the  fire  was  extinguished;  but  the  damned  burn  and  are  never consumed, nor  is  the  fire  ever  quenched.

Intercession. This  story  shows  us  how  dear  the  just  are  in  the sight of  God. Because Abraham  was  just,  Almighty  God  heard  his prayer, and  would  have  spared  the  cities  for  the  sake  of  ten  just  men. Holy people  living  in  any  town  or  country  bring  a blessing  on  the sinners among  whom  they  live,  even  though  they  may  be  scorned  and persecuted by  them. For their  sake,  many  a temporal  punishment  is averted. Monasteries and  religious  houses  bring  a blessing  on  the  places where they  exist.

Inordinate love  of  temporal  possessions.  Lot’s  wife  was  punished by the  death  of  her  body,  because,  being  too  much  attached  to  her possessions which  she  had  been  obliged  to  leave  behind  her  in  Sodom, she paid  no  heed  to  the  angel’s  injunctions,  but  stopped  and  looked behind her. Was it  not  foolish  of  this  woman  to  weigh  the  very  best of earthly  gifts,  life,  in  the  balance  against  her  paltry  household  goods? But those  act  with  still  greater  madness  who,  from  an  inordinate  love of honours,  riches,  pleasures  &amp;c.,  forget  the  salvation  of  their  souls, and lose  the  possessions  and  joys  which  are  eternal.

Temporal punishment.  God  rewarded  the  virtue  of  Lot  by  saving him from  the  destruction  of  Sodom. But he  lost  all  his  possessions which were  destroyed  with  the  city,  and  he  was  thus  punished  for  his selfish conduct  towards  his  uncle. By this  punishment  of  Lot  and  his wife, we  see  that  God  punishes  the  venial  sins  and  imperfections  even of the  just. Temporal punishment  must  be  suffered  either  in  this  world or in  the  next,  i.  e.  in  purgatory.

The sin  of  Sodom.  The  Sodomites  committed  horrible  and  unnatural sins  of  impurity  which  called  down  the  judgment  of  God. They are,  therefore,  counted  among  the  sins  which  cry  to  heaven  for vengeance.

How can  you  imitate  Lot’s  steadfastness?

A just man  is  wounded  by  the  sins  of  his  fellow-men. He laments their  wickedness,  and  prays  for  their  conversion. How have you  behaved  hitherto  in  this  respect ? How will  you  behave