September 8, 2019: Fruit, Meat, and Murder – Michael Hidalgo

Cain and Abel. One a shepherd and the other a farmer. This story loomed large in the Jewish consciousness, and not just about the brothers, mind you, but about what Cain represented. His name was synonymous with murder, violence, hatred and enmity, and while we may not like to admit it, there is a little Cain in all of us. From words we speak, to thoughts we harbor, to forgiveness withheld – we are capable of hate.

While this may be true, this is not who we are, we are lovers not fighters. Because of this we may be objects of hate from others. But here is the thing, the hate directed toward us is not to be reciprocated, rather we are to love. Because the assumption throughout the text is enmity is not something the people of God participate in – our example is Jesus – who died for us when we were still against him. And it is this kind of love that reveals everything.