Inquire about important matters, again and again

This Sunday’s readings present themes of persistence and inquiry. In last Sunday’s readings from Scripture, the first reading introduced Abraham, who entertained divine visitors stopping to rest within his household while on their way. This Sunday, the same visitors are on a mission to Sodom and Gomorrah, biblical cities that became synonymous with injustice and sin, but also home to Abraham’s nephew Lot and his family.

A key insight for understanding this passage appears in the verses that precede this week’s text (Gn 18:17-18). “The Lord considered, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do now that he is to become a great and mighty nation?’” The hesitancy on God’s part in this self-deliberation makes the Lord appear human, like someone considering options before acting. The point of inquiry in this instance was whether two ancient cities should be destroyed because of their rampant injustice. “‘I must go down to see,’” the Lord says, “‘I mean to find out’” (Gn 18:21). Abraham drew the Lord into a lengthy dialogue in an attempt to forestall the destruction of his nephew’s city, bartering down the number of righteous citizens God would have to find in order to forego the coming judgement. There were so few, however, that even Abraham’s efforts were not sufficient. 

Ancient readers would probably have relished this negotiation between Abraham and God. They would have understood that the point was not the destruction of the two cities, but the need for  persistence and inquiry necessary to discuss important matters about faith and morality. The Lord and Abraham are caught up in their exchange and inquiry. Abraham’s question highlights what is at stake: “Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” (Gn 18:23).

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Luke provides an early version of the Our Father. Matthew’s version, the one used today and memorized by most Christians, appears to modern scholars to present a more developed and liturgical form of the famous prayer. Luke’s version cuts to the essence of the prayer, “Father…your kingdom come” (Lk 11:2). It is essentially an inquiry and request, one so simple and powerful that Christ’s disciples can meditate on this for the entirety of their lives without exhausting its significance.

In the parable that follows the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches his inquiring disciples the importance of persistence. “I tell you,” says Jesus of the man sleeping comfortably behind the safety of his closed door, “he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence” (Gn 11:8). In Jesus’ view, prayer required constant attention to the present moment so as to respond to the moment’s needs. These needs are both those we think we need as well as those we know we need. “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Lk 11:9). Throughout Luke’s writings, from Gabriel’s announcement to Zechariah to Paul’s final speech in Acts, the evangelist teaches Christians how to seek their real needs and bring them before the Lord in prayer. Like Abraham, we do so with persistence, deepening our awareness with each new inquiry of God’s grace and justice.