Monday, February 16, 2015



Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

(Genesis 4:1-15.25; Mark 8:11-13)

The man struggled with cancer.  He wanted to live and dreaded the possibility of cancer taking his life.  “Why do you favor others, Lord, and not me?” he surely asked himself.   He was in a position much like Cain’s in today’s first reading.

Cain resents the fact that God has rejected his offering of fruit while accepting his brother Abel’s lamb.  There is no indication that Cain somehow shortchanged God with his sacrifice.  Rather God has spurned Cain’s fruit for an unknown reason.  But this does not mean that God has rejected Cain.  God tells the indignant older brother not to allow evil thoughts enter his head.  Unfortunately, Cain rejects the advice.  But even then God does not dismiss him forever.  Rather He pledges His protection.

We must not let our troubles keep us from going to God.  To the contrary, we should allow them like a pulley to bring us closer to Him.  Going to God with our needs in prayer not only demonstrates the proper order of existence – the Lord always first, then ourselves -- but also inclines us to the One who can bless us in unimaginable ways.