Holy God. He utterly destroyed the wicked cities from off the face of the earth, and made the whole neighbourhood desolate so that all men might know and fear His terrible justice. “Reducing the cities of the Sodomites and Gomorrhites to ashes, God condemned them to be overthrown”, says Saint Peter, “making them an example to those that should after act wickedly” (2 Pet. 2, 6). The punishment of Sodom and Gomorrha is, therefore, always held up as an example of the divine justice.
God's haired of impurity. This sin having been the chief cause of the destruction of the cities, you can see how hateful it is in the eyes of God, and how severely He punishes it. Impurity is the most shameful of all sins, and an abomination before God. It leads to many other sins, and easily results in impenitence and impiety, as was the case with the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrha. Almighty God does not always punish it in this world, but He will certainly do so in the next world. “Do not err; neither fornicators nor adulterers shall possess the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6, 9).
The duty of intercessory prayer. Intercession for the living and the dead is a spiritual work of mercy. Love prompted Abraham to pray for the wicked Sodomites: love should pronipt you to pray for others, for your parents, brothers and sisters, and for your spiritual and temporal superiors; but especially for sinners, that they may have the grace of conversion, and may not be eternally lost. “Pray for one another that you may be saved” (James 5, 16).
The characteristics of prayer. Abraham prayed with fervour, with humility, with confidence, and with perseverance, making his petition six times.
The power of prayer. Abraham’s prayer was not made in vain, for Almighty God granted it, in so far that, had there been ten just men in Sodom, the whole city would have been spared. “The continual prayer of a just man availeth much” (James 5, 16).
Lot's steadfastness is worthy of our admiration. He lived for twenty years in the wicked city, and did not let himself be led away into sin, but remained firm in what was right, and brought up his children in the holy fear of God. Therefore, Holy Scripture, in allusion to him, says: “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly from temptation” (2 Pet. 2, 9); because they pray and co-operate with grace.
Sorrow on account of sin. Lot’s fellow-citizens in Sodom “vexed his just soul with unjust works” (2 Pet. 2 , 8). The sins and crimes which he was obliged to witness hurt his holy soul, because God was offended by them, and many souls were eternally lost. We, far from jesting about the sins of others, should mourn over them. We shall knowr by our conduct in such cases, whether or no we have a true love for God and our neighbour. “Blessed are they who mourn.”
