Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. 2 And he said, “Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet... (Gen 19,1-2)

Tribal communities have their moral principles expressed in customs, which are the carrier of local culture and principles of conduct, and on which great emphasis is therefore placed. This is the source of many traditions, the strongest of which in Eastern cultures is hospitality. In many Islamic countries, it is still the case today that a guest who has been welcomed into a house is under the protection of his host, who is obliged to defend him at all costs against any danger.

However, when the morality of the community begins to decline, we see even the most basic rules not being observed. Sodom had certainly known the principle of hospitality and protection of guests before, as was common in the time of the Old Testament patriarchs. However, when God's messengers entered the city, they met Lot, who immediately invites them in and urges them not to remain in the open. Why does he do this? Did he sense a breeze of heaven and remember the atmosphere he once felt in the camp when Abram was visited by God? It is not entirely impossible, but the truth seems to be different, very simple: Lot was afraid of what might happen to them and wanted to protect them. He knew exactly why. Even the most basic rules of living together no longer applied in Sodom.

It is good to realize that if Lot had not at least kept these simple principles and left the guests to their fate, he would have perished. This cannot be understood to mean that he was saved by the reward of observing them. But they were the basis on which God could act. This made it manifest that Lot was different from others.

When the messengers came to Sodom, it was as if by chance they met Lot at the very first moment. But Lot originally wanted to watch the exciting Champions League semi-final that night! In fact, he didn't understand himself why he was heading towards the gates of Sodom instead... Strange are the ways of God, those seemingly random encounters that can completely reverse the course of a man's life. This is how God met Gideon, Manoah, Moses and many others, from Old Testament times to today, on their ordinary journey, wherever they were, at work or at rest. The messengers knew very well where Lot was - and so they came at the right time to the right place, so as not to miss him.

Just as God does not want to miss any of us.