BE YOUR BROTHER'S KEEPER (Genesis 4:1-15,25/Psalm 50:1,8,16-17,20-21/Mark 8:11-13)

BE YOUR BROTHER’S KEEPER
(Homily for Monday February 18, 2019)

The negative effects of the sin of our first parents are quite enormous and today’s first reading presents us with the movement of how one sin begets the multiplications of so many sins. As we pointed out a few days ago, the sin of Adam and Eve is not just about disobedience but the genesis of all other evils and vices.

We can now see the high level of deception by the serpent and how he took advantage of our first parents. Instead of the knowledge of what is evil and good to help to reduce the commission of sin, it increases it and the will power to say no to sin becomes a serious battle within us.

In the reading of today, we see that that the disobedience of our first parents begets hatred, jealousy, envy, wickedness, anger, unforgiven spirit, deception, lying and murder. The first murder recorded in the history of humanity has no justification.

Why did Cain kill his brother Abel? Was it Abel that rejected his offering? The answer is NO. Cain killed his brother as a result of envy, hatred, wickedness and anger. He purposely deceived his brother in the name of going to the field to play and in the process killed him and when he was asked, he responded “am I my brother’s keeper?

What led Cain to kill his brother Abel is exactly what is ruling our society today; Anger, hatred, envy, jealousy, wickedness and deception. Go to our different families, our various communities and even Churches, the story is almost the same. Why hating him/her for no just cause? Why hating him/her? Is it because he/she is progressing and you are not? Because he/she is more devoted to God more than you do. Because he/she is loved by the people more than you are.

Many have denied their loved ones even their fellow Christians in a broad daylight just because of hatred, envy, wickedness, unforgiven spirit, and jealousy.
It is as a result of this wickedness and hatred that made the Pharisees, the elders, the Jewish authority and the Scribes to hate our Lord Jesus with impunity. They neither loved Him nor have faith in Him.

They never for once believed in His miracles and the power of His authority. Upon all the marvels Christ had already done in their very before just to prove the authenticity of His ministry, as that which came directly from God, yet these group of people were not satisfied.

Today they went ahead demanding for more signs and wonders for them to be sure and convinced of the authority and ministry of Christ.

Let us pray for the grace of God so that the spirit of envy, hatred, unforgiven spirit and wickedness existing in our families and Christian communities will be destroyed and may we always embrace the spirit of love that makes us see ourselves as brothers and sisters.

Let Us Pray: Lord Jesus, give me the grace to place my faith in you and to offer you my best always so that I will be accepted and may your love continue to save us from wickedness and envy. Amen.