Tagged: message of the day

“Abel, for his part, brought one of the best firstlings of his flock.” –Genesis 4:4 Both Cain and Abel brought offerings to the Lord. God accepted Abel and his offering, but He did not look with favor on Cain and his offering. Although we don’t know the details of this event, Scripture does provide us with a clue into what God looks for in a sacrifice. Abel brought to the Lord his “best” (Gn 4:4). Cain simply brought “an offering” (Gn 4:3). The Lord repeatedly emphasizes offering the best we have, without blemish (see Lv 1:10). What we give to...

“The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘If someone has on his skin a scab or pustule or blotch which appears to be the sore of leprosy, he shall be brought to Aaron, the priest.’ ” –Leviticus 13:1-2 Do you have a spiritual scab, pustule, or blotch? Do you need inner healing? A scab is a past hurt beginning to heal but still a touchy subject. You feel like picking at it or at a certain person and opening the wound once again. Don’t touch the scab. Don’t reverse the healing process. A pustule is an effect of spiritual infection....

“By the sweat of your face shall you get bread to eat.” –Genesis 3:19 When God created the human race, He gave us dominion over all creation (Gn 1:28). Created things did not resist us but were in perfect harmony with us. Working the land was a pleasure, not a burden. We didn’t have to struggle to provide food for ourselves. After we sinned, we changed and the world changed. We and the rest of creation were no longer in harmony. For the first time there was such a thing as bad weather, sick people, and dangerous wild animals. Work...

“The woman answered the serpent.” –Genesis 3:2 We read today’s first reading and we want to shout: “Oh, Eve! Flee from the serpent! Don’t give him the time of day. Oh, Adam! Don’t eat it! Throw the fruit away!” Through the disobedience of Adam and Eve, we have inherited a world polluted with sin and death (Rm 5:12). It’s so tempting to want to put all the blame on Adam and Eve: “Now look what you’ve done. You messed up the whole world and now we have to live in your mess. It’s all your fault.” Yet that is exactly...

“The Lord God said: ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him.’ ” –Genesis 2:18 God created a suitable partner for Adam, the first man. This partner was so perfect a match for Adam that he could call her “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Gn 2:23). Eve literally completed Adam’s flesh; she was created out of the missing piece of Adam’s body, his rib. In becoming one with Eve, Adam’s missing piece (Gn 2:21) was restored and they were both made whole. A young person who...