＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Genesis 4:1-15, 25

Adam had intercourse with Eve his wife;

She became pregnant and gave birth to a child. She named him Cain, for she said, “I have got a man with help from Yahweh.” She later gave birth to Abel, his brother. Abel was a shepherd and kept flocks, and Cain tilled the soil.

 It happened after a time that Cain brought fruits of the soil as an offering to Yahweh. Abel for his part brought the firstborn of his flock, and some fat as well. Now Yahweh was well pleased with Abel and his offering, but towards Cain and his offering he showed no pleasure. This made Cain very angry and downcast.

 Then Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry and downcast? If you do right, why do you not look up? But if you are not doing what is right, sin is lurking at the door. It is striving to get you, but you must control it.”

 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go to the fields.” Once there, Cain turned on his brother Abel and killed him. Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is your brother, Abel?” He answered, “I don’t know; am I my brother’s keeper?”

 Yahweh asked, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Now be cursed and driven from the ground that has opened its mouth to receive your broth­er’s blood that your hand has shed. When you till the soil, it will no longer yield you its produce. You will be a fugitive wandering on the earth.”

 Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. See! Today you drive me from this land. I must hide from you and be a wanderer and a fugitive on the earth, and it will so happen that whoever meets me will kill me.” Yahweh said to him, “Well then, whoever kills Cain, will suffer ven­geance seven times.”

And Yahweh put a mark on Cain to prevent anyone who met him from killing him. Adam again had intercourse with his wife and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth; for she said, “Yahweh has given me another child in place of Abel since Cain killed him.”

 

Ps 50:1 & 8, 16bc-17, 20-21

Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Mark 8:11-13

 The Pharisees came and started to argue with Jesus. Hoping to embarrass him, they asked for some heavenly sign.   Then his spirit was moved. He gave a deep sigh and said, “Why do the people of this present time ask for a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this people.”   Then he left them, got into the boat again and went to the other side of the lake.

 

Gospel Reflection：

People who have nothing much to do love to argue to kill time. Instead of being productive, they spend their time in useless speculations and quibbling over semantics. The Pharisees are not only that.

They also placed on Jesus the burden of proving Himself. But they will leave empty handed for they were already empty in the first place. they are empty of faith and belief in the words of Jesus. Thus no amount of sign would be good enough for them.

They already have decided. That is why Jesus did not humor them. Whatever He will do will be useless in front of those who already decided not to believe.