Life Outside the Garden

Reflection on Today's Readings, Monday, 6th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, February 15th, 2021
Texts: Gen. 4:1-15.25; Ps. 50:1&8.16-17.20-21; Mark 8: 11-13
Today's first reading reminds us that though man has been driven out of the garden of Eden, he has not lost complete relationship with God. The offering of sacrifice by Cain and  Abel is an acknowledgement of God.  Man's relationship with God in the garden of Eden could be likened to the relationship of the apostles with Jesus Christ. It is a kind of relationship in which God is fully  present with the apostles in Jesus Christ; a relationship which freed them from fasting. Jesus replied to the question why the apostles  did not fast thus: "Surely the bridegroom's attendants cannot mourn as long as the  bridegroom is with them? But  the time will come when the bridegroom is taken from them and then they will fast" (Mt. 9:15). The apostles would fast after resurrection, when Jesus Christ was no longer  physically present with them. Offering of sacrifice is the outcome of being driven out of God's presence. The offering of the sacrifice was a new way by which man established relationship with God. In the garden of Eden there was no need for sacrifice because God was fullypresent to man. Outside the garden, we will continue to  win God's favour and graces  through sacrifice. Sacrifice is an acknowledgement of God's goodness and providence by offering Him fruits of our labour, time, energy, talents and gifts.
Today we are reminded to offer a worthy sacrifice to God. God deserves the best. Whatever that is to be offered to God should be the best; it is such a sacrifice that wins the favour of God. God rejects the sacrifice of Cain because it was not worthy of Him and accepted that of the Abel for its worthiness. It is said, "And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,  but for Cain and his offering he had no regard." St. Paul admonishes us, "I urge you, then, brothers,  remembering the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living  sacrifice, dedicated and acceptable to God; that is the kind of worship for you, as sensible  people" (Rm. 12:1). Let us offer our lives to God.
Another thing to learn from the reading is the need to accept correction from God and to live by His  commandment. The rejection of Cain's sacrifice is a form of correction, telling him to learn how to give  worthy sacrifice to God. God also corrected him about his anger. It is said,  "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door, its desire is for you, but you must master it." Cain rejected God's correction and he fell into sin, he committed murder. Today's  psalmist says, "How can you recite my commandments, and take my covenant on your lips, you who despise correction, and cast my words behind you?"
We also need to master our emotions, we need to be emotionally intelligent. Anger can make man irrational. Cain had no reason for getting angry with his brother, he should rather be angry with himself because he was the cause of his own misfortune. He decided himself what to present to God, the offering that  God rejected. His anger blindfolded him and he could not reason well any longer. Hence,  we need to learn how to control our emotion before it controls us.
In today's gospel reading,  Jesus Christ  complained that the people were after sign. The just shall live by faith, not by sign. It is by faith we see sign. There are enough signs to believe in God and in Jesus Christ, but because we do not have faith, we do not see them. Hence,  let us live by faith and we will see signs.

God our Father,  pardon us our iniquity, help us to offer ourselves to you as a living sacrifice worthy and acceptable to You.  Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke