Breaking the Word

6^th Week in Ord. Time, Monday – 13^th February 2023 – Genesis 4,1-15.25; Mark 8,11-13

Competition Kills

Today’s first reading presents the story of Cain killing his younger brother Abel. From the sin of disobedience, the human condition worsens to fratricide (killing of a brother). Cain is upset because his sacrifice of grain is not as pleasing to the Lord as his younger brother’s offering of the best of his flock. God’s displeasure with Cain’s sacrifice may be based on Cain’s not offering the best of what he had. Cain is inflamed with jealousy that drives him to anger and ultimately to murder.

Once again, this passage describes our human nature. Sometimes we are like Cain. We perform some sort of ritual, expecting to be rewarded, but we do not have the right attitude when we make an offering to God. The purpose of presenting a gift to God should not be to receive something in return. It should be to praise and worship God for God’s sake, not for what God might do for us. In another way, we might express jealousy when others seem to be having a better response to their actions than ours. Instead of trying to see how we might improve our actions, we rather often try to put down other persons, either emotionally or physically. We think it is easier to remove the competition or block. Further still, we may act like Cain when it comes to our fear of being punished even for things for which we deserve to be punished. We are afraid of others’ reaction against us.

5^th Week in Ord. Time, Saturday – 11^th February 2023 – Genesis 3,9-24; Mark 8,1-10

Immense Personal Love

Today’s first reading’s account of God confronting the sinful first couple is sad, but there is also hope. When Adam and Eve are confronted by God about not being open with God, they first try to hide themselves, committing the first cover-up. Then, when confronted, they try to switch the blame away from themselves. Their sinfulness prevents them from being comfortable in God’s presence. They hide in the garden and finally come out as God is calling them by name. Obviously, they feel ashamed of disobeying God. However, the hope is that God calls and asks, “where are you?”

It is natural for humans to experience fear when we are confronted for what we have done wrong. If we allow fear to dominate our lives so as not to come out to face God, then the “master of deception” has won another victory. The enemy wants us to hide in fear and shame and not venture out into the light of God. On the other hand, if we are willing to come forth as God calls, and respond to his question, “Where are you?” Then we are willing to step out in faith into the presence of God and are willing to accept responsibility for our failures. Thus, we admit our sinfulness and come out to share in God’s love and forgiveness. When we have supernatural ‘fear’ or ‘awesome respect’ for God, then we will come to know and experience the immense personal love of God.