Homily: Monday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time - Cain's Unacceptable Sacrifice

Why was Abel’s sacrifice found pleasing to God and his brother Cain’s was not?

The Letter to the Hebrews explains  “By faith Abel offered God a sacrifice greater than Cain’s.” 

Something important, something vital was lacking in Cain’s sacrifice.  When he offered to God the fruits of his labors he did so with defective faith.  Biblical scholars have discussed what this has meant for centuries. 

Abel gave God the best firstlings of his flock; perhaps Cain only gave God the leftovers.  Perhaps Cain offered the sacrifice half-heartedly.  Remember our Lord praises the widow who gave, not from her leftovers, but from her need.

Cain had no doubt worked hard to produce his harvest, but perhaps he loved the fruits of his labor more than God—loving what is seen more than He who is unseen.  Perhaps he wanted to get the sacrifice over as soon as possible so he could go back to worldly pursuits--like the person who wants Mass to be over as soon as possible so they can go back to playing Angry Birds on their iPhones.

Perhaps, he only offered the sacrifice in order to get something out of it.  Kind of like the followers of the so-called Prosperity Gospel today, who come to Christ because they believe God will make them prosperous and wealthy in this life on earth. 

Just how Cain’s sacrifice was defective in faith, we do not know.  But it seems God even gave Cain another chance” “Why are you so resentful and crestfallen,” the Lord asks Cain.  If you do well, you can hold up your head…There’s a demon lurking at the door, but you can be his master.”  The Lord was explaining that there was still time, there was still a choice to be made. 

Maybe Cain did not understand the Word God spoke to him, but rather than seeking to understand, rather than seeking to perfect his defective sacrifice, rather than submitting to God, Cain submits to the demon.  He closes his ears to God, he becomes closed in on himself, he gives in to the feelings of jealousy and resentment, and he takes Abel into a field and attacks and murders him.

Often, our anger and feelings of resentment come as a result of turning away from the truth, turning away from faith.  There are people who hate the Church simply because she claiming that there is right way and a wrong way to live. 

St. Paul in his letter to the Romans urges Christians to offer their bodies and minds—their very selves—as living sacrifices to God, by not conforming to the pattern of this world, but being renewed through Christian truth.

The letter to the Hebrews speaks once more of the sacrifice of Abel: “You have drawn near…to Jesus…and to the sprinkled blood which speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.”

As we draw near to Jesus and to His blood in the Eucharist today, may we come to offer a more pleasing sacrifice of ourselves to God for the glory of God and salvation of souls.