Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
When I was in college, people would sometimes get ready for a night of partaking in the college party scene with the words, "Time to make some poor life decisions." It was said in jest, and yet with a lot of truth. Looking back, I don't know if they were embarrassing this foolhardy attitude that sometimes accompanies those years or if it was an initiation for someone to step in and say something. Regardless, those moments are what came to mind as I read today's first reading.
Cain is fully aware that he is stepping out to make some poor life decisions. He is going to take up violence against his brother and the world will never be the same. This scene can be hard to relate to because of its severity and violence, but I think there are valuable lessons we should learn from Cain.
Cain is upset with God and Abel because Abel's sacrifice was regarded more favorably. It is noteworthy that Cain merely "brought an offering to the Lord" while Abel "brought one of the best firstlings of his flock." Scripture seems to indicate that Abel's offering was a more costly sacrifice to himself. But this was not a concern Cain had. He disliked that Abel's received greater favor. Instead of delighting in his brother, he grew contentious. How often do we grow sorrowful in the face of another's success or well-being? Do we delight when someone else gets more than us?
Cain turned his frustration toward the one he felt he could target. Unlike the future patriarchs would do, Cain did not contend with God about his sacrifice. Maybe he knew his sacrifice was a last-minute bundle of grain he threw together, or maybe he didn't dare accuse God of injustice. Either way, he shut God out and ignored God. God approaches Cain to warn him that sin is at his door, but that he can master it. Cain's response is so telling. He says nothing to God. Maybe Cain no longer trusts God, maybe he thinks he can never do better than he already has, maybe he is just angry. Whatever the case, he ignores God's appeal to overcome sin and walk in righteousness and instead calls Abel away to descend on him in violence. How often do we stay stubbornly resolute in our sinful course? How often do we ignore the voice of God calling us to overcome our sin?
May we learn from Cain's mistakes. May we heed the Lord's voice. May we rejoice in the well-being of others. May we not see others as threats but find our trust in God. May we choose to make good life decisions and not resign ourselves to making poor choices that we could overcome.
- Spencer Hargadon