Be my God, my protector and my refuge, to save me. For you are my strength and my refuge, and for the sake of your name you guide and sustain me (Ps 30:3ff).

 

Be my God, my protector and my refuge, to save me. For you are my strength and my refuge, and for the sake of your name you guide and sustain me (Ps 30:3ff).

God is the creator and defender of life, and for this reason he calls us to fraternity, and not to eliminate our brothers and sisters. We are invited to respect our lives, a precious divine gift, as well as the lives of our fellow men, so that our conduct may be a sign to the world, just as Jesus’ was.

First Reading: Genesis 4:1-15.25

A reading from the Book of Genesis – 1Adam knew Eve, his wife; and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have conceived a man in the Lord.” 2She also bore Abel, Cain’s brother. Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a farmer. 3 It happened later that Cain offered a sacrifice to the Lord of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel offered a sacrifice of the firstborn of his flock, with their fat. The Lord looked upon Abel and his offering, 5 but did not look upon Cain and his offering. Cain was filled with anger, and his face fell. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you filled with anger and with your face fallen? 7 If you do good, you will walk with your head held high; but if you do evil, sin lies in wait at the door, but you can master it.” 8 Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go to the field.” As soon as they reached the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He answered, “I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" 10The Lord said to him, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground. 11Now therefore, cursed are you from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand! 12When you till it, it will withhold its fruit from you. And you will be a fugitive, a wanderer on the earth." 13Cain said to the Lord, "My punishment is too great for me to bear. 14If you drive me out of this land today, I must hide from you and become a fugitive, a wanderer on the earth; anyone who finds me will kill me." 15The Lord said to him, "No! But whoever kills Cain will be punished sevenfold." So the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who finds him would kill him. 25Adam went back to his wife. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, saying, “The Lord has given me another seed in place of Abel, whom Cain killed.” – The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: 49(50)

Immolate to God a sacrifice of praise!

1. The Lord God spoke, he called the earth, / from the rising of the sun to its setting he summoned it. / I do not come to condemn your sacrifices, / for your burnt offerings are ever before me. – R.

2. “How dare you repeat my precepts / or bring my covenant into your mouth? / You who hated my laws and my counsels / and turned your back on the words of my lips!” – R.

3. You sat there slandering your brother / and reviling your mother’s son. / At this you have done, should I keep silent? / Do you think I am like you? / This is what I accuse you of, and I rebuke you, / and I make these things known to you.” – R.

Gospel: Mark 8,11-13

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

I am the way, the truth and the life, / no one comes to the Father except through me (Jn 14,6). – R.

Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Mark – At that time, 11the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus. And to test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12But Jesus sighed deeply and said, “Why do these people ask for a sign? Truly, I tell you, no sign will be given to these people.” 13And leaving them, Jesus got back into the boat and went to the other side. – Word of salvation.

Reflection:

Jesus is irritated by the Pharisees’ lack of faith. Even in the face of so many miracles, healings and exorcisms, they ask for a sign. They are incapable of recognizing the wonders Jesus performed. In fact, they are not interested in his signs; they only provoke him to know the origin of his power. In the Old Testament, signs are the wonders that God performs for the people and constitute the milestones of the history of salvation. Through signs, God manifests his glory and his love, calling for conversion. Jesus is God himself. His presence alone already manifests the mercy and glory of God. Everything he does manifests his identity, but the Pharisees are blind and deaf, incapable of recognizing him as the expected Messiah. The definitive sign of Jesus will be his resurrection.

(Day to Day with the Gospel 2025 - PAULUS)