July 27, 2025
Loving Father,
You welcome us into Your presence and into Your eternal home. May we celebrate Your invitation to be in Your company. We also ask You to come and find a place in our hearts and lives. Amen.
Commentary
The hospitality of Abraham towards God is now about to take a turn. In our First Reading this week, Abraham seizes the opportunity to plea for the life and safety of the righteous living in Sodom.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Abraham must muster up the courage to speak to God in such a bold way, excusing himself before he poses each of his questions to the Lord. Nevertheless, Abraham has good reason to position himself as mediator between God and the innocent few in Sodom.
What we don’t know from this week’s reading is that the innocent people Abraham hopes to protect are his nephew Lot and his family. As the story progresses, Lot and his family are ushered out of Sodom and then God releases his punishment upon the city.
However, the general purpose of this reading for this Sunday is to show that God appears before us in hopes that we will ask Him for favors. Our Gospel today will address this point head-on.
How do you see yourself as a mediator for those in need?
Commentary
Of course, the role of mediator that Abraham took upon himself would never compare to the role Christ played as mediator between heaven and earth. Our Second Reading reminds us that Christ acted as mediator for even the guilty, not just the righteous. In fact, no one stands righteous before God except through Jesus Christ.
There was a bond placed on us when we had sinned. A bond that we could never repay. Only Christ would pay for our transgressions. By the power of the cross, the bond, “with all its legal claims,” was nailed to the cross.
Every time we look at the cross, we should be reminded of the price that Christ our mediator paid to release those of us who were imprisoned in sin. Through His cross and resurrection, we are set free. Through faith and Baptism in the Lord, our chains are released. His mercy is beyond compare!
How do you celebrate knowing that Jesus has paid your bond and your chains have been released?
Continued...
Commentary
We know that Jesus is the living temple, the Good Shepherd, the light of the world, etc.
Yet He expects us to be a living temple, shepherds, light and salt for the world as well. In the same way, although Jesus is the one mediator between heaven and earth, He calls us to share in His mediation. For this reason, St. Paul says, “Pray for one another.”
The point is made clearer in this Gospel where Jesus presents to us the pray we say daily — The Lord’s Prayer. Notice that the prayer is not a “me” prayer, but an “us” prayer. It is expected to be offered by those of us who are a part of His Body. We pray this prayer for all of God’s people. We do this especially when we gather around Jesus in the Eucharist. There, at the Table of the Lord, Christ is our mediator and we have a participation in His mediation.
God expects us to be imitators of Him and ask our Heavenly Father for whatever. Yet so many of us are afraid to ask for fear that our request may not be answered. Just ask, seek, and knock.
How often do you pray for others?
Write down three prayer intentions for a friend, family member, co-worker, fellow student, etc. Bring the intentions (physically or mentally) to church and include them as your intentions for Mass.
Your act of hospitality means loving those who cross your paths, not just when they are in your presence, but well after. Remembering them in prayer is a continual act of hospitality.
(The group passes a candle or a cross and each member offers a special intention for someone in need. You may conclude each petition with, “Lord hear our prayer.”)
The prayer continues with Psalm 15.
Response: Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
R: Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
R: Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
R: Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
R: Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Used with Permission. All rights reserved. Christ in Our Neighborhood © is a Scripture program designed by Bishop John Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix. Free resources at dphx.org/christ-in-our-neighborhood.
