Ordinary Time 
Pause
O Lord, I want to know you better today than I did yesterday. I am hungry and thirsty for you. I want a rich relationship with you.
Teach me how to pray and communicate with you and to hear from you.
Help me hear you deep in my heart and give me the grace to respond to the great love that you have towards me.
Listen
The men turned away and walked toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing in front of the Lord. Abraham approached and said, “Will you really sweep away the innocent with the guilty? What if there are fifty innocent people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not save the place for the sake of the fifty innocent people in it? It’s not like you to do this, killing the innocent with the guilty as if there were no difference. It’s not like you! Will the judge of all the earth not act justly?”
The Lord said, “If I find fifty innocent people in the city of Sodom, I will save it because of them.”
Genesis 18:22-26
Think
The scriptures describe Abraham as a friend of God. Abraham talked to God as you talk to your friends. Also, Abraham questioned God. This may be a hard thing to believe, but this scripture tells us the details of the conversation. A good friend will ask you questions to remind you of your motives for doing what you want to do. This story shows that God is kind and honors innocence. Abraham reminded God of being kind. This is a significant act of friendship. When did you last remind a friend of his or her true character or nature? It is a loving act of friendship.
You also are a friend of God, and when you pray, you can question God and remind God of God’s nature: “Remember, God? You love creation, you are fair, you are kind.” Tell God that you want to see that for your life and for those around you. It’s okay to question God. God is relational. In healthy relationships, you can ask questions and expect an answer.
Iyabo Onipede
Pray
Lord, help me remember that you designed me to pray to you and with you. Thank you for giving me the ability to ask you questions. Today, I ask you questions knowing you will answer them. For this, I am excited. Amen.
Go
God loves you deeply and passionately. God wants a wonderful and exciting relationship with you. God wants to communicate with you and listen to you. God wants you to hear what God is saying to you today.
Go into today, knowing that you are profoundly loved and that you have a close and intimate relationship with the Creator of the Universe because you prayed.
