Tuesday after the Sixth Sunday after Trinity, 8/1/00

Genesis 4: 13-15 And Cain said to the Lord, "My punishment is greater than I can bear! Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me." And the Lord said to him, "Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him. --NKJV

In the name of the One Who gives us a time of grace, amen.

Yesterday we saw how Cain committed premeditated murder. Today we see that God protected Cain's life, rather than destroying him. Cain himself senses that the natural punishment for murder should be murder, but he desires to live. Cain is a difficult person to figure out. Here he complainse that he will be hidden from the face of God. There is sorrow at least over the consequence of his sin, if not true repentance. He does not accept his punishment in humility, he doesn't express regret that he killed his brother, rather, he is only concerned about his own suffering.

So, why does God let Cain live and even protect His life? The answer is written all over Holy Scripture, but it is most clear in the words of St. Peter, "The Lord is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3: 9). Life is a time of grace. It is the time during which we are to come to know and love God. Once breath leaves our bodies, it is too late to change the outcome. But while we are alive, there is still the chance for repentance. That is the reason that Cain was allowed to live. Value the time of grace! Make the most of every opportunity lead others to repentance. And most of all, make sure that you are repentant-sorry for your sins and trusting in Jesus for forgiveness. Amen.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You have given us life as a time of grace. Help us to make the most of the time that we have. Keep us from being hardened in our sins so that we do not repent. Forgive our sins because of Jesus' blood. Help us to reach out to others during their time of grace so that they too may be saved. We ask this by the power of Your Holy Spirit, and in the name of Your Son Jesus, amen.

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