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Living the Gospel: Intercession, Mercy, and the True Message of Sodom and Gomorrah
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What does it truly mean to live the gospel? When we read the passages of Genesis 18:20–32, Colossians 2:12–14, and Luke 11:1–13, we are invited into a deep reflection on mercy, intercession, and the boundless grace of God. In these scriptures, we encounter the heart of the gospel—a call not only to personal transformation but also to a life marked by compassion, humility, and a readiness to stand in the gap for others.
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The Intercessor’s Heart: Abraham’s Plea for Sodom
Genesis 18:20–32 opens with a scene that is both profound and deeply human: Abraham stands before the Lord, learning of the grave sin of Sodom and Gomorrah. God’s justice is clear—there is a great outcry against these cities. Yet Abraham, rather than turning away or celebrating the expected judgment, steps forward as an intercessor.
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He asks, with remarkable boldness and humility, whether God would spare the city if fifty righteous people could be found. And then, with each answer, Abraham presses further—forty-five, forty, thirty, twenty, even ten righteous people. At every turn, God’s answer is a gentle affirmation: “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”
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This exchange is not just a lesson in persistence; it is a revelation of God’s character and a call to intercessory prayer. Abraham’s dialogue with God reminds us that the first instinct of those who live the gospel is not condemnation, but mercy. The heart shaped by God’s love pleads for others, seeking their redemption, not their destruction.
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The True Message of Sodom and Gomorrah: Beyond Judgment
The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is often reduced to a tale of judgment for egregious sin. Yet, beneath the ashes, there is a deeper message that is both cautionary and hopeful. The prophets, especially Ezekiel (see Ezekiel 16:49–50), remind us that the iniquity of Sodom was not only immorality, but a deeper rot: “pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.”
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The sin of Sodom was the failure to love, the refusal to show hospitality, and the neglect of justice for the vulnerable. Their downfall was not simply personal wickedness, but the collective hardening of hearts against compassion and righteousness.
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God is not eager to destroy; God listens as Abraham intercedes. God searches for the righteous, even a mere handful, and would withhold judgment for their sake. The true message, then, is not only that God judges evil, but that God longs to show mercy. God’s hope is always for repentance, restoration, and the flourishing of communities built on justice and love.
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Dying and Rising with Christ: Colossians 2:12–14
Fast-forward to the New Testament, where Paul writes to the Colossians about the transforming power of Christ. In Colossians 2:12–14, we read of how, in baptism, we are buried with Christ and raised with Him through faith in the power of God. Paul reminds us that we, too, once lived in “trespasses” and the “uncircumcision of our flesh,” but God forgave us all our sins. The record of debt that stood against us, with its legal demands, has been canceled and nailed to the cross.
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Here is grace in its fullness: We are not judged and condemned but offered new life. Jesus, the ultimate Intercessor, stands in the gap for us—pleading, not with words, but with His own life. He absorbs our failings and our debts and, in exchange, offers us forgiveness and freedom.
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The gospel is not a story of earned righteousness, nor a tale of the deserving and undeserving. It is about radical grace—the kind that spares cities for the sake of a few, the kind that raises the dead, the kind that welcomes sinners home.
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The Rhythm of Prayer: Luke 11:1–13
When the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray, He responds with words that have echoed through centuries: “Our Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come…” (Luke 11:2). He teaches them persistence in prayer through the parable of the friend at midnight—a story that assures us that God does not tire of our petitions.
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“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13).
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Prayer is not merely a religious duty; it is the heartbeat of a living relationship with God. It is where our hearts are shaped to reflect God's love, where our desires are aligned with His mercy, and where we find the courage to intercede for others, as Abraham did.
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Living the Gospel: A Call to Compassion and Action
To live the gospel, then, is to echo Abraham’s intercession, to embrace the grace of Christ, and to cultivate a persistent life of prayer. It is to recognize, as the prophets did, that the greatest sins are often the coldness of our hearts to the suffering around us—poverty, injustice, exclusion.
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- Intercede for others. Stand in the gap for your city, your community, your family. Refuse to give up on those who seem far from God. Plead for mercy, not because they deserve it, but because God delights in mercy.
- Live out resurrection life. Remember that Christ has set you free, not to judge or condemn, but to invite others into the freedom He brings. Extend forgiveness, hospitality, and love—especially to the overlooked and forgotten.
- Persist in prayer. Let your life be marked by the kind of bold, shameless prayer that Jesus commends. Ask, seek, and knock. Trust that your heavenly Father hears, delights, and responds.
- Embody justice and mercy. Let your faith be practical. Share your bread with the hungry, care for the poor, and work for justice in your neighborhood. Refuse the ease and pride that marked Sodom; instead, cultivate a community of kindness and generosity.
A Gospel for Our Time
The ancient stories of Abraham, the letters of Paul, and the teachings of Jesus intersect in a powerful invitation: to live the gospel is to be a conduit of grace in the world. We are called beyond self-preservation, beyond tribalism and judgment, into the wide mercy of God.
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The true message of Sodom and Gomorrah warns us against a life closed off from love, justice, and compassion. It beckons us to become intercessors—people who pray, who act, and who believe that God is always seeking to redeem, not destroy.
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So today, may we live with open hands and open hearts. May our prayers be persistent, our actions generous, and our witness shaped by the One who, through death and resurrection, has canceled our debts and set us free. This is the heartbeat of the gospel—mercy triumphing over judgment, love conquering fear, and hope rising from the ashes.
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Join us every Sunday at 3:00 PM at 557 Greene Street in Augusta Georgia in the sanctuary of the MCC of Our Redeemer.
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July 27, 2025: Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Mass Intention: For all the clergy and laity of the OCCI.
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August 3, 2025: Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Potluck before Mass at 12:30 PM. Joint potluck with MCC.)
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Mass Intention: For all our supporters and for the growth of our parish family.
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For the St. George family; Fr. Bryan Wolf; Mary Nehls; for Kelesh’s daughter; James (Cancer); Linda (Cancer); Jacob (Cancer); James Long (Cancer); Mickey; Jacob Williams; Kelesh and family; Lindsay; Sherlock Bones; Tatum Johnson (Job); Bishop James Long; David; John; Joy; Greenbear; Bishop Ben and Darlene Williams; Ryn Ingells; growth for our parish family; all those in the path of the wildfires and severe weather, end of hostilities in Ukraine and the Middle East; for an end to gun violence.
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Can't make it to Mass?
You can still join us virtually, you can by using any of the following outlets:
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Support our Parish!
We are in desperate need to financial support to keep our parish going. We are working to raise $500 to pay our liability insurance. We need these funds by immediately! Please donate today using the following links or QR Codes:
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Venmo: @saintfrancisparish
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CashApp: $saintfrancisparish
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Parish Bible Study
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Our Parish Outreaches
Human First Outreach
This ministry focuses on providing food and toiletry supplies to the homeless in the Augusta, Georgia area. We provide feminine hygiene products to those that need them and food for the pets of our homeless friends and family.
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We are working to bring a human touch to this ministry as we encourage volunteers to engage with the individuals we are helping in a compassionate and loving way. We expect all volunteers to refrain from proselytizing and preaching to those we serve. Instead, take a hint from Hamilton “talk less, listen more”.
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If you would like to donate to this important ministry, you can visit our Amazon wishlist and purchase items to be sent directly to us.
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Reclaiming the Cross Outreach
Check out our newest outreach in which we work to set the record straight on what the Bible says about many of the issues facing our society today!
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Reclaiming the Cross is an outreach of our parish headed up by Subdeacon Luna Godsey.
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Podcast Outreach
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Sunday Selfies
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Don't forget to take your Sunday Selfie and send them to us! You can email them to us at info@oursaintfrancis.org or tag us on Facebook using #saintfrancisparish and #sundayselfie.
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Our Parish goes social...
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