A Bias Towards Mercy // Rev. Matt Kennedy // Jan 26 2025

Perhaps the bitter cold days of midwinter are not the best time to read the stories of Genesis 3-11 , they tell a sad story. Fairly quickly in the book of Genesis we read an extended account of humanity's descent into sin and destruction. Last week we read of the exile from the garden; the beginning of the descent, but unfortunately it was only the beginning. This week we turn to the next generation of our ancient ancestors and uncover a crime more terrible than the first: the murder of a brother. Cain kills Abel. Once again, the scriptures ask us to look within our souls and consider where sin and violence come from. For Cain, it was anger, disappointment, and envy. These were sins, "lurking at the door" that ultimately led to violence (Genesis 3:7). Yet this story is not just a post-mortem of a homicide, it is another look into the heart of God who withholds a due punishment (3:15). In a world that is increasingly punitive towards wrongdoers, the story of Cain and Abel is a challenging meditation on justice, mercy, and the source of sin in our soul.