Today we witness the destruction of life, the consequence of the sin of disobedience. It describes how sin, once it had gained entry into the world, spread like a contagious disease until the whole of humanity, was totally corrupt. In the first reading, the story of Cain's murder of his brother Abel clearly shows that strife amongst men is an immediate consequence of sin against God. Cain's insolent reply "Am I my brother's keeper" (a familiar phrase) conveys that he had no love for God nor for his brother. Yes, this reminds us that, if our profound love for God is not manifested in love for His people, then we are deceiving ourselves and God.

God is Omniscient. He is compassionate and merciful. He knows that we are enslaved by an environment that we are supposed to appreciate and enhance. For most of us in our desire for a meaningful faith, we, like the Pharisees, demand signs and wonders. But God 'corrects' us by refusing; yet the fact remains: He loves us, He does not disown us.