Abel’s Heart, Cain’s Offering

My reflection this week started with hearing Fr. Christopher’s sermon about Cain and Abel, and then listening to Bruce Springsteen’s “Adam raised a Cain”. Springsteen’s song acknowledges our need to explain the horrific murder; finding a cause makes us feel better – as if we are in control. It’s a common response to hearing about a murder or any sin for that matter. Our standard operating procedure is to blame the parents or society first. This diversion helps me to look outside myself. I need to find an exterior cause for Cain’s action. Because if Cain owns his sin, then I have to own mine. 

It is curious that the murder of a brother starts with an offering to God. We are not told if Cain picked a small crop, or a diseased crop for his offering. Maybe Cain brought the leftovers from his harvest. Whatever the reason, the Lord rejected his offering. Abel gives his firstlings and fatted lambs. Abel’s offering is a true sacrifice and acceptable to God. 

Naturally, Cain is upset. And God sees that Cain’s spirit is broken. Cain is told that if he does well, “he” will be accepted. And if he does not, sin is lurking at his door, and he must master it. Cain just found out that what he offers to God is really himself. His sin was self-centeredness and a hard heart. The fruit of that sin was bringing a meager offering to God or withholding the best crop for himself. Abel’s pleasing offering shined a spotlight on Cain’s nature and character. 

So instead of looking at himself, he looked outward, for excuses and believing the lies of the enemy; lies that justified envy, and rage that led to murder. I am reminded that most of our Christian liturgy begins with introspection and confession. What if Cain’s response to a rejected offering was confession?

In Psalm 51 we hear:   

“The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

I need to learn, as Cain did, that whatever I offer to God in the offering plate, or online, is really myself. What would it be like to present a check to Jesus in-person? Would he look at my heart or the amount on the check? Would he be pleased or reject my gift? Abel and Cain teach me that living out my discipleship is not about being a steward of my assets, it is being a steward of my heart. Cain presented an offering; Abel presented his heart.