Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection February 17, 2025
6th Week in Ordinary Time
17th February 2025 (Monday)
Psalter: Week 2
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Genesis 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.”
Psalm 50:1,8, 16bc-17, 20-21 (R. 14a)
R/. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Mark 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.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Monday – 6th Week in Ordinary Time
Main Point: External signs such as miracles and grand interventions may help faith but cannot generate faith or prove God’s power.
As humans we are, many times our faith depends on seeing and experiencing concretely God’s action and intervention. Accordingly, we wish that our intercessions for various needs are granted immediately. In other words, miracles, favours become the proof for the efficacy of our prayer, and also for the attention and care of God.
In a way, we are unconsciously putting God to test, to prove His goodness and power by granting what we plead for. This is in fact the same mentality of people of Jesus’ own time, who demanded signs from heaven. How foolish and unbelieving they were!
There were already many miracles, so much preaching the gospel of God’s love and mercy, comfort and consolation. And more than all these, Jesus himself is the biggest sign. Therefore, what is needed is not to test God but trust; not asking God to prove His power but to prove our fidelity to Him by our perseverance.
If we sincerely examine, many of us are no different from those Pharisees who demanded signs from heaven. It is not because they wanted to believe and confirm their belief. Rather they wanted to justify and disguise their unbelief. Are there not enough and more signs in our own times? Why do we want signs at all? What are actually signs meant for?
Do we realize that primarily signs are meant to direct our focus and attention in the right direction? They are meant to comfort and strengthen us in the wrong times, and ignite us with renewed courage and commitment. They are not to substitute but only to complement our responsibility.
Many times, signs are demanded to shirk away our responsibility. Like Cain in the first reading from Genesis, why do wrong and then have the countenance fall? If we do well, surely God will accept and bless us. We will not need special signs. The greatest sign of God’s presence is charity, that is, to be a “keeper, a custodian of the other” as a brother and sister. Jealousy, violence and destruction are counter signs.
My Practice: If in every prayer, we only ask God to fulfil our desires and grant us favours, then why at all to pray specially for God’s will to be done?
