Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Monday of the 6th week in Ordinary Time, February 17, 2025

Delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Genesis 4: 1-15.25; Rs psalm 50: 1.8.16bc-17.20-21; Mark 8: 11-13THE FIRST MURDER Our meditation for today has the theme: The FirstMurder. It has been a long time since the first murder occurred in the story ofcreation. The murder took place between the brothers in their family, one namedCain and another Abel. According to the book of Genesis, Cain was angry,envious, hateful, and hurt because God was pleased with Abel's offering, whilehis offering was not looked at by God. So the first murder by a human being to hisfellow really occured in the family. The first murder was made possible by anger, hurt,hatred in a person who knew that his brother turned out to be better thanhimself. Anger and heartache come from an unclean heart, immature and alreadycorrupted by evil. Anger and hurt do not come from outside, but from within oneself,who does not want with goodness and truth, but prefers evil. The proof is thatwhen Cain showed a face that was not cheerful, gloomy, unhappy, and did not dogood, the Lord God said that sin had lurked at the door and was ready at anytime to deceive Cain. Satan and all his evil forces are very happy andalways lurk at the door. He is one hundred percent ready to bring up hisstrength when the opportunity arises. Whoever like Cain, who does no good, who issad, unhappy, always thinking negatively, and has wild and strange views, and doesnot heed God's will for him, becomes the most open opportunity for Satan and itsevil power. In fact, when in such a situation, there is already a warning that"Satan is lurking at the door" and the person who is reminded realizes.He also knows what Satan's power looks like. But the warning goes unheeded. Andhe falls into sin. He is the real Cain and also any of us who will not heed anyuseful warning. In His public ministry, Jesus also gave many warningsto the apostles, disciples and all who received healing and forgiveness fromHim. They heed that warning and they were saved. While the Pharisees andscribes never heeded, their sin was great. They were the same as Cain, they hadno place in God's heart and no salvation came to them.  On this day we are invited to remember that the firstmurder continues to this day in the form of physical, mental and characterkillings. We must stop it right now, even though Satan is always lurking, butwe must be strong and must not give him a chance.Let us pray. In the name of the Father... O Lord, may wealways heed Your commandments and warnings at all times. Glory to the Fatherand to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father...