2023 Daily Lenten Journey – Day 10

The theme of this year’s Daily Lenten Journey is beginnings. In the spirit of reading from Genesis and repentance, which has the Hebrew meaning of returning to the beginning, the Church wants us to recall where it all began. The story of Genesis is the not the story of creation, but the beginning of our salvation. Today we hear yet another beginning.

Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, east of Eden.  Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch; and he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.  To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael the father of Methushael, and Methushael the father of Lamech.  And Lamech took two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.  Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have cattle.  His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.  Zillah bore Tubalcain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.  Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, hearken to what I say: I have slain a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me.  If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold.” And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another child instead of Abel, for Cain slew him.”  To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time men began to call upon the name of the LORD.

Genesis 4.16-26

One patter you will notice in Genesis is the constant theme of beginning. Today the reading ends with “At that time men began to call upon the name of the LORD.” Adam and Eve have been removed from the Garden to begin their journey of salvation. Their son Cain has killed his brother Abel and been sent away from the family to begin his new life. The era of the Garden of Delight is over. The era of salvation has begun.

That should be an inspiration to us. We can choose to leave our life of sin behind and have a new beginning today. We can choose to rededicate our life to our salvation. Just as God had appointed another child for Eve, God has appointed another chance for us to repent. Just as they had a new beginning, today is our new beginning.

We are not bound by the sins of the past unless we choose to remain in the past. For things to change in our life, we must call upon the name of the Lord. He is waiting for us, just as He waited for Adam and Eve in the Garden. Just as God did not abandon Adam and Eve in the Garden, He has not abandoned us.

Today’s reading also begins the custom of reading about lineage. Knowing the descendants of Cain doesn’t only tell us about people. It reminds us that God never forgets us. When God remembers us, we are under His care and grace. Even the descendants of Cain, the murder who was removed from the family, is not forgotten by God. The story of salvation includes the descendant of Cain too. The story of salvation doesn’t leave anyone out.