Sem. Jerald M.

Jimenez

History of Salvation

2nd yr. St. Catherine of Alexandria

Rev. Fr. Matt Jason John Molina

REFLECTION ON GENESIS CHAPTER 4

I AM MY BROTHER`S KEEPER?
Brothers. Siblings. We know that this two terms signifies a good point and ideas when we
hear this. But how about if there is a great dark side in this term-Brothers?
Many of us know this story of Cain and Abel in the Bible. Even since we were children.
We learned from this story that the story reveals in the jealousy and the resentment of one not
only to another man but also to God. We also know even the every details of this story. But how
can I reflect on this story?
I have learned in our class, in History of Salvation, that this story is not a historical story
but it signifies teachings in which the Church has given us a lot of doctrines on this. Well,
honestly, I am not a theologian in whom I can discuss the different doctrines of this story, but I
will tell to you some points for reflections.
First, is the origin and effect of the sin committed by our first parents, Adam and Eve. As
we have learned from the previous chapters of the book of Genesis we can see that they have
violated the covenant of God, more so they disobeyed God. The first sin, disobedience. But we
will not focus on the act, but on its effect. We can see the effects of the sin committed by our first
parents not on them but on their children, Cain and Abel. Yes, they were given a great suffering,
they will work, they will die, they will not be Perfect somehow, but the greatest of it is that,
they are incline in doing sinned again and again.
Second, the story foreshadows not basely on the offering of the two siblings, but it is
deeper within it. That is the hardness of heart, jealousy, and resentment. Jesus in the New
Testament said that if you will offer something at the priest or the altar and you have a brother or
sister in whom you have been angry within it, leave it there and have reconciled on him or her
first and afterwards go back and continue to offer.
So, the reason on why God did not accept the offering of Abel is not merely the they were
not pleasing to God but it is that the offering is not merely on the external aspects but also the

internal aspect, Cain has probably have been so much resent to Abel, we do not know the reason
why, the Bible is silent about it.
Third, this story prefigures the coming of Jesus Christ in two aspects. The first aspect is
that the fall of men due to its sin against God and man. The story does not end only on that
aspect, because God said even also after the fall of the first parents, Adam and Eve that He will
make them rise after their fall so also God will make us rise after we all fall, by who? Through
Jesus Christ
Second aspect is that, Abel is a shepherd, and obviously it prefigures the characteristic of
Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is our good shepherd. He lays his life down on his sheep. It shows that
this story prefigures and points Jesus Christ.
Lastly, it is all about the passage of Cain, stating, I am brothers keeper?
Who are our brothers by the way? Our siblings? Is it only our first family? Our brothers or in
blood-relationship? Yes, but it is not only them, but the real thing is that our brothers are the
people around us. We should not be like Cain in whose great anger and resentments resides in us,
we should not kill literally and spiritually other people around us because we are form in Gods
image and likeness since the beginning. We need to take care our neighbors as the second
greatest commandment states, Love your neighbor as yourself. In whom Jesus Christ, gave us.
Who are your brothers or neighbors? Is it really that you are a brothers keeper? A
neighbors keeper? Let the covenant or relationship of each one of us be renewed and filled
within us, in whom Jesus Christ did to each one of us, really I can say, He did not call us servants
but as friends, as brothers.