[Uucf-bible] Bible Discussion from Lectionary this week: God, Abraham, and Sodom

[Marguerite Sheehan]

Dear friends, In reading/listening to this parable I thought about the many
hours the Massachusetts Senators and activists labored over the new
Massachusesetts law to make marriage available to gay and lesbian people. I
was not thinking about the conventional association of homosexuality with
Sodom and Gomorrah but I could imagine this as a conversation with God,
going over and over the same material, showing God (and God showing us) that
it is real people we are talking about not labels or images. This is the
ongoing dialogue we have to have with ourselves and each other, convincing
us, reminding us, that each and every soul deserves to be loved and
respected and allowed to live a full life. Thank you, Blessings, Marguerite
Sheehan (seminarian)
----- Original Message -----
From: <RevRonRobinson at aol.com>
To: <uucf-bible at lists.uua.org>
Sent: Friday, July 23, 2004 9:18 AM
Subject: [Uucf-bible] Bible Discussion from Lectionary this week:
God,Abraham, and Sodom


Hi all. Hope you are enjoying the summer. I know it has been quiet on the
list, and I haven't posted updates lately. We still have the readings of the
Thomas parables that can be discussed. I will be posting another parable
also
soon. Here is a great one from this week's lectionary. A classic of
Universalism,
of God's desire for social justice. Enjoy.
blessings,
Ron Robinson


Genesis 18:20-33

20Then the LORD said, ‘How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah
and
how very grave their sin! 21I must go down and see whether they have done
altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will
know.’
22So the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, while Abraham
remained
standing before the LORD. 23 Then Abraham came near and said, ‘Will you
indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24Suppose there are fifty
righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not
forgive it for
the fifty righteous who are in it? 25Far be it from you to do such a thing,
to
slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the
wicked!
Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?’
26And the LORD said, ‘If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will
forgive the whole place for their sake.’ 27Abraham answered, ‘Let me take it
upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28Suppose
five of
the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of
five?’ And he said, ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.’ 29
Again he spoke to him, ‘Suppose forty are found there.’ He answered, ‘For
the
sake of forty I will not do it.’ 30Then he said, ‘Oh do not let the Lord be
angry if I speak. Suppose thirty are found there.’ He answered, ‘I will not
do
it, if I find thirty there.’ 31He said, ‘Let me take it upon myself to speak
to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.’ He answered, ‘For the sake of
twenty I will not destroy it.’ 32Then he said, ‘Oh do not let the Lord be
angry
if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there.’ He answered, ‘For
the sake of ten I will not destroy it.’ 33And the LORD went his way, when he
had finished speaking to Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.









_______________________________________________
Uucf-bible mailing list
Uucf-bible at lists.uua.org
http://lists.uua.org/mailman/listinfo/uucf-bible