EDITORIAL
I
n the human history as described in the Holy Writ, the Book of Genesis, two important persons we take note of are Cain and Abel, the two sons of our first parents, Adam and Eve. Cain was a tiller of the ground whereas Abel was a keeper of sheep. Apart from being just two individuals, they are two symbols that represent the entire humanity and two options that man could choose from. By listening to the hollow words of the vile serpent Adam and Eve proved recalcitrant and disobedient to God thereby abdicating their claim to live in the Paradise. Cain and Abel were the sons of these exiled parents and they got an opportunity to show their interest and attitude to God. It was a time to make offerings to God to please him. Both of them built altars. The offering of Cain was not acceptable to God. But God was pleased with Abel and his offering. Abel had brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. We are told that Cain’s offering was rejected by God and so his countenance fell. God asks Cain, Why are you angry and why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? (Gen 4:6-7). Sin was lurking at Cain’s door and that was why his offering was rejected. Cain and Abel represent two contrasting attitudes of man towards God. The offering is accepted or rejected by God based on the attitude of the one who offers it. Every person seems to have two kinds of mentality or conscience, if you prefer. One is the Cain conscience which nurtures lustful and lascivious desires and selfishness. The other is the Abel conscience that is spiritual and heaven-ward looking. In all the decisions we take, in all the attitudes we maintain, we can detect these dichotomous aspects of our conscience - one of Cain and the other of Abel. In almost all the persons referred to in the Holy Writ, we can see the battle between these two aspects. A very good example is found in the rich young man who approaches Jesus with the desire to follow him and May 2014
attain eternal life (Mt 19:16-22). It was the Abel conscience in him that engendered in him the desire to follow Jesus, to attain eternal life and the ways to attain it. Jesus understood the youth’s desire and told him the means. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments (Mt 19:17). He keeps the commandments meticulously. That means in him the Abel conscience has the sway. He wanted to further know his shortcomings and so he asks, “What do I still lack?” Jesus then told him, If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me (Mt 19:21). The moment the Abel conscience awoke in him promoting him to relinquish his possessions which were an impediment on his way to eternal life, the Cain conscience roused itself and acted. Suddenly his desire to continue with his possessions gained the upper hand, creating in him a serious dislike to give them up. As the Cain conscience was persuading him to give up God to retain his worldly possessions, the Abel conscience in him was prompting him to follow Jesus giving priority to spiritual things. In the raging battle between the Cain conscience and Abel conscience, the former became victorious, and the latter was brutally slain. The Bible says that the rich young man in the incident, Mt. 19:16-22, went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Whenever we are at the crossroads of life, where we have to make choices, take decisions and develop attitudes, the Cain and Abel attitudes make waves in, and counter claims from us. At such junctures, if the spiritual man has to gain the upper hand the Abel in us should be fortified and the Cain in us should be ruthlessly suppressed. Let us nurture the good being in us through prayers, pious acts, works of charity, patience and forgiveness. When we find no time to fortify ourselves with a spiritual life, the Cain in us will gain strength and the upper hand, leading us headlong into doom and damnation.
As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God (Ps. 42:1).
Fr Zacharias Edattu V.C. Vachanolsavam 3