Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 17, 2025
First Reading: Genesis 4.1-15, 25
1Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD."2And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.3In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground,4and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering,5but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.6The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?7If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it."8Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.9Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?"10And the LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.11And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.12When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth."13Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear.14Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."15Then the LORD said to him, "Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.25And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, "God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him."
Psalm 50
1The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.3Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest.4He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people:5"Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!"6The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah7"Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God.8Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me.9I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds.10For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.11I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.12"If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.13Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?14Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High,15and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."16But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips?17For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.18If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you keep company with adulterers.19"You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit.20You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son.21These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.22"Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver!23The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!"
Gospel: Mark 8.11-13
11The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.12And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."13And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.
Sermon
The readings today guide us through themes of sin, faith, and their profound consequences. In Genesis, we witness the tragic tale of Cain and Abel, where jealousy and anger lead to the first murder. Cain's offerings, born from resentment, are rejected by God, while Abel's sincere offerings are favored. This ancient story highlights the destructive power of envy and the importance of humility. Cain's punishment as a wanderer, yet protected by God's mark, reminds us of sin's consequences and God's enduring mercy.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus confronts the Pharisees' demand for a sign, a test of his divinity. Jesus' refusal to provide a sign underscores the necessity of faith without reliance on miracles. This exchange reflects the ongoing struggle between belief and doubt, urging us to trust in God's presence without constant proof.
These readings intertwine sin and faith, cautioning against the perils of envy and the need for unwavering faith. In our lives, we are reminded to cultivate humility and trust in God's plan, avoiding the destructive path of Cain and instead embracing the faith that sees beyond the immediate. Let us reflect on our own hearts, seeking to root out envy and nurture a faith that stands firm without the need for signs.