Hello from Iowa, It’s Mark “G” again. Fr. Eke may return next week. Today,
2/17, just happens to be my bride’s birthday: so Happy Birthday to my bride
of 37yrs. ��
Reading 1, Genesis 4:1-15, 25: The man had relations with his wife Eve,
and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the
help of the LORD.” Next she bore his brother Abel. Abel became a keeper of
flocks, and Cain a tiller of the soil. *In the course of time Cain brought an
offering to the LORD from the fruit of the soil, while Abel, for his part, brought
one of the best firstlings of his flock. *The LORD looked with favor on Abel
and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not. Cain greatly resented
this and was crestfallen.
So the LORD said to Cain: “Why are you so resentful and crestfallen. If you do
well, you can hold up your head; but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door:
his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master.”
*Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out in the field.” When they were in
the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
Then the LORD asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He answered, “I do
not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” The LORD then said: “What have you
done!
Listen: your brother’s blood cries out to me from the soil! Therefore you shall
be banned from the soil that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood
from your hand. If you till the soil, it shall no longer give you its produce. You
shall become a restless wanderer on the earth.”
Cain said to the LORD: “My punishment is too great to bear. Since you have
now banished me from the soil, and I must avoid your presence and become a
restless wanderer on the earth, anyone may kill me at sight.” “Not so!” the
LORD said to him. “If anyone kills Cain, Cain shall be avenged sevenfold. “So
the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest anyone should kill him at sight.
Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son whom she
called Seth. “God has granted me more offspring in place of Abel,” she said,
“because Cain slew him.”
*** There is so very much sin and evil in this creation story: Extreme
envy, Murder, Lies with deceit and Persecution. But God, rightfully angry
as He was, responded with Mercy. **1) It’s odd that after Cain kills Abel,
and then God banishes him from the land surrounding the Garden of
Eden, all of the sudden he’s worried about who lives or dies, mainly
himself. Where was that concern due to Abel.? **2) Reasoning -vs-
reaction. I want to stay neutral on this, since I’m sure my own offerings to
God have been stingy in the past. Yet, we are witnessing our first
example of stewardship or tithing. We currently only burn incense in a
limited way, but we do offer sacrifice everyday… Time, Treasure and
Talent.!! Prayer is a sacrifice of time and intention. Reading scripture is
time given back to God & allowing Him to teach or inspire you.
Volunteering knowing that you’re not even likely to get an ‘atta-boy’.
Singers, Readers, musicians, Drs., Nurses, guys with pick-up trux willing
to haul something for a neighbor. Finally, there’s money, not just at
church but out in your community. The mission field holds UN-Ending
opportunities just waiting for YOU!! **3) Lastly on this reading is, Life
comes from GOD. Eve gives birth to start and finish this reading. First
was Abel & Cain and then Seth. Each time she thanks God for allowing
her to bring forth the life that “He” created through Adam, in her womb!
GOD IS LIFE, and life is the most precious gift ever, this side of Heaven.
Psalm 50: 1,8,16-17,20-21; God the LORD has spoken and summoned the
earth, from the rising of the sun to its setting. “Not for your sacrifices do I
rebuke you, for your burnt offerings are before me always.”
“Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth,
though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?”
“You sit speaking against your brother; against your mother’s son you spread
rumors. When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it? Or do you think that I
am like yourself? I will correct you by drawing them up before your
eyes.” Offer to God a sacrifice of praise!!
*** Well, well, God is a little upset with ‘the folks’ giving Lip-service to His
commands, statutes and laws. God throws down the gauntlet. He sees
the sacrifices and hears the lip-service and declares it all to be an
abomination because of how people treat each other ‘away’ from the
presence of God. God is forced to chastise them and remind them, that
He is ever present, all seeing!!
Gospel Mark 8:11-13, The Pharisees came forward and began to argue
with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from
the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign?
Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Then he left
them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.
***Here we find Jesus totally exasperated and probably exhausted. All
that these people want are magic tricks, if they don’t see it, they don’t want to
believe it. They also don’t want to believe in Jesus. Nobody could blame
Jesus if He were to look up to heaven and ask God the Father, “Why ‘these’
people? What’s it gonna take?” We know in retrospect what it’s going to take,
crucifixion! How well Jesus said, “Blessed are they who have not seen, yet
believe”! **Until next time, Shalom and all of God’s Love be yours! Mark G.
