1 Abraham journeyed on to the region of the Negeb, where he settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he stayed in Gerar, 2 he said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, "You are about to die because of the woman you have taken, for she has a husband." 4 Abimelech, who had not approached her, said: "O Lord, would you slay a man even though he is innocent? 5 He himself told me, 'She is my sister,' and she herself also stated, 'He is my brother.' I did it in good faith and with clean hands."

6 God answered him in the dream: "Yes, I know you did it in good faith. In fact, it was I who kept you from sinning against me; that is why I did not let you touch her. 7 Therefore, return the man's wife--as a spokesman he will intercede for you--that your life may be saved. If you do not return her, you can be sure that you and all who are yours will certainly die." 8 Early the next morning Abimelech called all his court officials and informed them of everything that had happened, and the men were horrified. 9 Then Abimelech summoned Abraham and said to him: "How could you do this to us! What wrong did I do to you that you should have brought such monstrous guilt on me and my kingdom? You have treated me in an intolerable way. 10 What were you afraid of," he asked him, "that you should have done such a thing?"
Genesis 20:1-10

Taking a cue from the Pope no commentaries will be done for the remainder of each days posting of the daily Bible reading.


''I think the fundamental element that convinced Benedict XVI to take part in the television program was the fact that he will not be commenting but simply giving a pure reading of the text, a pure announcement of the word,'' Monsignor Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, told the ANSA news agency.

19 "You have already thought enough of your servant to do me the great kindness of intervening to save my life. But I cannot flee to the hills to keep the disaster from overtaking me, and so I shall die. 20 Look, this town ahead is near enough to escape to. It's only a small place. Let me flee there--it's a small place, isn't it?--that my life may be saved."

21 "Well, then," he replied, "I will also grant you the favor you now ask. I will not overthrow the town you speak of. 22 Hurry, escape there! I cannot do anything until you arrive there." That is why the town is called Zoar. 23 The sun was just rising over the earth as Lot arrived in Zoar; 24 at the same time the LORD rained down sulphurous fire upon Sodom and Gomorrah (from the LORD out of heaven). 25 He overthrew those cities and the whole Plain, together with the inhabitants of the cities and the produce of the soil.

26 But Lot's wife looked back, and she was turned into a pillar of salt. 27 Early the next morning Abraham went to the place where he had stood in the LORD'S presence.
28 As he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and the whole region of the Plain, he saw dense smoke over the land rising like fumes from a furnace. 29 Thus it came to pass: when God destroyed the Cities of the Plain, he was mindful of Abraham by sending Lot away from the upheaval by which God overthrew the cities where Lot had been living
Genesis 19:19-29

God was merciful to Lot and his family allowing them to be saved from the destruction at hand. Don't we receive these blessings as well in our own lives when we encounter situations that shake us to move on our way before an accident occurs. Many will chalk it up to something else rather than credit it to the divine mercy of God. What have we done in our lives to merit God's mercy when accidents or disasters are avoided mysteriously. But many a time we fail to thank God for his grace and mercy in delivering us from the peril. We are not always a grateful people. Everyday we are given blessings and graces that touch our lives in such a way to speak loudly of God's presence. In the people we come in contact with, with nature and with our daily living. Sodom and Gomorrah lost because they would not change. Sometimes cities have undergone drastic moments where they are bombarded with disaster. Isn't that a call to change in itself. Or would we rather have our cities destroyed as Sodom was because we refused to listen to his mercy. We have the choice to chose, but will it be wisely and done for the greater good of God or for our own pleasure instead.

31 Seeing, saith he, I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord. What if twenty be found there? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty. 32 I beseech thee, saith he, be not angry, Lord, if I speak yet once more: What if ten should be found there? And he said: I will not destroy it for the sake of ten. 33 And the Lord departed, after he had left speaking to Abraham: and Abraham returned to his place.

1 And the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of the city. And seeing them, he rose up and went to meet them: and worshipped prostrate to the ground, 2 And said: I beseech you, my lords, turn in to the house of your servant, and lodge there: wash your feet, and in the morning you shall go on your way. And they said: No, but we will abide in the street. 3 He pressed them very much to turn in unto him: and when they were come into his house, he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread and they ate: 4 But before they went to bed, the men of the city beset the house both young and old, all the people together. 5 And they called Lot, and said to him: Where are the men that came in to thee at night? bring them out hither that we may know them:

6 Lot went out to them, and shut the door after him, and said: 7 Do not so, I beseech you, my brethren, do not commit this evil.
Genesis: 18:31-33, 19:1-7

The angels were visible to Lot and to those who lived in Sodom. They came to purify. Lot knew what Sodom was undergoing and how evil had manifested itself. He beseeched the townsmen to not come and commit evil against these angels. It's sad that evil was present to the point that it would have been committed to heavenly beings. They came and found protection with Lot. He didn't sell them or hand them over to delight the wicked. We can't say the same in our time. We have people who sell humans for the pleasure of others. We have people who give humans to others for all sorts of wicked plans. Our time is no different than Sodoms was. Except it is widespread rather than in one place. And God knew more than anything their hearts were hardened beyond stone. Aren't our hearts almost as hardend as theirs when our desires are placed above God's. Where have we placed our desires in our time. Is it with God's will for our life or is it for our own desires.