Readings: Genesis 4:1-15,25; Psalm 80; Mark 8:11-13

In our first reading from the book of Genesis, we read that it is not what we offer up to God that is important but our intention in offering it. This is good for us to remember as we prepare to start the season of Lent. We have given up so much during this pandemic: what more do we have to give up? In Genesis, Moses is addressing the human condition and how we become jealous of one another and we think that God loves another more than us. Or that he gives many gifts to someone else. But God loves us all the same as his children making us brothers and sisters. We are called to give to God our best not like Cain who did not give God his best.

The responsorial Psalm tells us: "offer to God a sacrifice of praise."

In the Gospel, the leaders of the Jewish people ask Jesus for a sign to prove to them who he is. In yesterday's Gospel, Jesus performed an impossible miracle and heals a man with leprosy. In St Mark's Gospel Jesus is always giving a sign that he is the promised Messiah, but the Pharisees refuse to see them as sign of his mission to save the people. He did not do signs to show off but to let the Jewish people and us know who hi is, the one sent to save us from our sins.

Take care and God bless.

Fr. Tom