Replacement

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/021615.cfm) reminds me that God sends us worthy replacements all the time.

Having someone or something you love taken away from you is never a good feeling. However, as the saying go, when God closes a door, he opens a window. Cliché but true. Some would even go further and say that when God closes a door, he opens the roof! God closes a door but opens up a bigger and wider space to send his blessings.

God does not take away something for no reason and with no replacement. When he takes away something, he gives you a worthy, or even better replacement.

In the first reading, we see this. When adam and even lost their son Abel, God gave them Seth. Seth comes from the Hebrew word shat, meaning to replace. God replaced Abel with another son, a son who God also favored and who was a worthy replacement of Abel.

God never takes away something without giving us something better.

A lot of times, we fail to see, or we  do not want to see God’s love despite the pain of having someone or something taken away from you. We let pain and hurt blind us to the truth of God’s love. We justify our actions and behavior based on what we feel, and not on what God has for us. We do not give God a chance to heal us, and replace with something better what he took away.

May we be reminded and inspired to let God heal us, fill us, and replace with something better what he took away.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for the reminder and encouragement that you will always give me a worthy replacement. May I always have faith in you, and may I never be blinded by sorrow or the pain of losing someone or something. help me have faith in your goodness and in your great plans for me. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

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February 16, 2015

Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 335

Reading 1 Gn 4:1-15, 25

The man had relations with his wife Eve,

and she conceived and bore Cain, saying,

“I have produced a man with the help of the LORD.”

Next she bore his brother Abel.

Abel became a keeper of flocks, and Cain a tiller of the soil.

In the course of time Cain brought an offering to the LORD

from the fruit of the soil,

while Abel, for his part,

brought one of the best firstlings of his flock.

The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,

but on Cain and his offering he did not.

Cain greatly resented this and was crestfallen.

So the LORD said to Cain:

“Why are you so resentful and crestfallen.

If you do well, you can hold up your head;

but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door:

his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master.”

Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out in the field.”

When they were in the field,

Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Then the LORD asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

He answered, “I do not know.

Am I my brother’s keeper?”

The LORD then said: “What have you done!

Listen: your brother’s blood cries out to me from the soil!

Therefore you shall be banned from the soil

that opened its mouth to receive

your brother’s blood from your hand.

If you till the soil, it shall no longer give you its produce.

You shall become a restless wanderer on the earth.”

Cain said to the LORD: “My punishment is too great to bear.

Since you have now banished me from the soil,

and I must avoid your presence

and become a restless wanderer on the earth,

anyone may kill me at sight.”

“Not so!” the LORD said to him.

“If anyone kills Cain, Cain shall be avenged sevenfold.”

So the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest anyone should kill him at sight.

Adam again had relations with his wife,

and she gave birth to a son whom she called Seth.

“God has granted me more offspring in place of Abel,” she said,

“because Cain slew him.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 50:1 and 8, 16bc-17, 20-2

1R. (14a) Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth,

from the rising of the sun to its setting.

“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,

for your burnt offerings are before me always.”

R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

“Why do you recite my statutes,

and profess my covenant with your mouth

Though you hate discipline

and cast my words behind you?”

R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

“You sit speaking against your brother;

against your mother’s son you spread rumors.

When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?

Or do you think that I am like yourself?

I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.”

R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

Alleluia Jn 14:6

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;

no one comes to the Father except through me.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 8:11-13

The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus,

seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.

He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said,

“Why does this generation seek a sign?

Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

Then he left them, got into the boat again,

and went off to the other shore.