Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 18, 2019
First Reading: Genesis 4.1-15, 25
1Truly, Adam knew his wife Eve, who conceived and gave birth to Cain, saying, "I have obtained a man through God.2And again she gave birth to his brother Abel. But Abel was a pastor of sheep, and Cain was a farmer3Then it happened, after many days, that Cain offered gifts to the Lord, from the fruits of the earth4Abel likewise offered from the firstborn of his flock, and from their fat. And the Lord looked with favor on Abel and his gifts5Yet in truth, he did not look with favor on Cain and his gifts. And Cain was vehemently angry, and his countenance fell6And the Lord said to him: "Why are you angry? And why is your face fallen7If you behave well, will you not receive? But if you behave badly, will not sin at once be present at the door? And so its desire will be within you, and you will be dominated by it.8And Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go outside." And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and he put him to death9And the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" And he responded: "I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?10And he said to him: "What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to me from the land11Now, therefore, you will be cursed upon the land, which opened its mouth and received the blood of your brother at your hand12When you work it, it will not give you its fruit; a vagrant and a fugitive shall you be upon the land.13And Cain said to the Lord: "My iniquity is too great to deserve kindness14Behold, you have cast me out this day before the face of the earth, and from your face I will be hidden; and I will be a vagrant and a fugitive on the earth. Therefore, anyone who finds me will kill me.15And the Lord said to him: "By no means will it be so; rather, whoever would kill Cain, will be punished sevenfold." And the Lord placed a seal upon Cain, so that anyone who found him would not put him to death25Adam also knew his wife again, and she gave birth to a son, and she called his name Seth, saying, "God has given me another offspring, in place of Abel, whom Cain killed.
Psalm 50
1A Psalm of Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord has spoken, and he has called the earth, from the rising of the sun even to its setting2from Zion, the brilliance of his beauty3God will arrive manifestly. Our God also will not keep silence. A fire will flare up in his sight, and a mighty tempest will surround him4He will call to heaven from above, and to the earth, to discern his people5Gather his holy ones to him, you who order his covenant above sacrifices6And the heavens will announce his justice. For God is the judge7Listen, my people, and I will speak. Listen, Israel, and I will testify for you. I am God, your God8I will not reprove you for your sacrifices. Moreover, your holocausts are ever in my sight9I will not accept calves from your house, nor he-goats from your flocks10For all the wild beasts of the forest are mine: the cattle on the hills and the oxen11I know all the flying things of the air, and the beauty of the field is with me12If I should be hungry, I would not tell you: for the whole world is mine, and all its plentitude13Shall I gnaw on the flesh of bulls? Or would I drink the blood of goats14Offer to God the sacrifice of praise, and pay your vows to the Most High15And call upon me in the day of tribulation. I will rescue you, and you will honor me16But to the sinner, God has said: Why do you discourse on my justices, and take up my covenant through your mouth17Truly, you have hated discipline, and you have cast my sermons behind you18If you saw a thief, you ran with him, and you have placed your portion with adulterers19Your mouth has abounded with malice, and your tongue has concocted deceits20Sitting, you spoke against your brother, and you set up a scandal against your mother’s son21These things you have done, and I was silent. You thought, unjustly, that I ought to be like you. But I will reprove you, and I will set myself against your face22Understand these things, you who forget God; lest at any time, he might quickly take you away, and there would be no one to rescue you23The sacrifice of praise will honor me. And in that place is the journey by which I will reveal to him the salvation of God
Gospel: Mark 8.11-13
11And the Pharisees went out and began to contend with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, testing him12And sighing deeply in spirit, he said: "Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, if only a sign will be given to this generation!13And sending them away, he climbed into the boat again, and he went away across the sea
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and our responses to His presence in our lives. The story of Cain and Abel from Genesis and the encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees in Mark offer timeless lessons on faith, jealousy, and trust.
The story of Cain and Abel reminds us of the dangers of jealousy and the consequences of sin. Cain's jealousy towards Abel's favored offering leads him to commit a grave act, resulting in his exile. This narrative underscores the importance of right actions and a humble heart before God. It warns us against letting envy guide our actions, as it can lead us down a path of destruction.
In the Gospel, the Pharisees demand a sign from Jesus, testing His divine authority. Jesus' response highlights the Pharisees' lack of faith and their need for constant validation. This teaches us about the importance of trusting in God without always seeking tangible signs. It emphasizes that true faith is about believing without always seeing.
Together, these readings encourage us to cultivate faith and trust in God. They remind us to avoid the pitfalls of jealousy and instead focus on right actions and a humble heart. As we navigate our daily lives, let us strive to trust in God's plan, even when we don't see immediate signs, and to avoid letting envy consume us. May we draw strength from these lessons, living with faith and integrity, reflecting God's love in all we do.