2023 Daily Lenten Journey – Day 11

Every good story includes a recap of the plot. When the author does this, it is normally to remind us of the important parts of the story. The author of Genesis, by Holy Tradition it was Moses, does the same thing today.

This is the book of the genesis of mankind in the day God made Adam, whom He made in God’s image. He made them male and female, and blessed them; and the day He made them He called his name Adam. Now Adam lived two hundred and thirty years, and begot a son according to his form and image, and named him Seth. After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were seven hundred years; and he begot sons and daughters. So all the days Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died. Now Seth lived two hundred and five years, and begot Enosh. After he begot Enosh, Seth lived seven hundred and seven years, and begot sons and daughters. So all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years, and he died. Now Enosh lived one hundred and ninety years, and begot Cainan. After he begot Cainan, Enosh lived seven hundred and fifteen years, and begot sons and daughters. So all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years, and he died. Now Cainan lived one hundred and seventy years, and begot Mahalalel. After he begot Mahalalel, Cainan lived seven hundred and forty years, and begot sons and daughters. So all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years, and he died. Now Mahalalel lived one hundred and sixty-five years, and begot Jared. After he begot Jared, Mahalalel lived seven hundred and thirty years, and begot sons and daughters. So all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years, and he died. Now Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years, and begot Enoch. After he begot Enoch, Jared lived eight hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. So all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years, and he died. Now Enoch lived one hundred and sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. After he begot Methuselah, Enoch was well-pleasing to God for two hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. Thus Enoch was well-pleasing to God, and was not found, for God translated him.

Genesis 5.1-24

Yesterday we heard the descendants of Cain who murdered Abel. We heard how God promised to protect him from others. The story of Cain ends there. Today the story of Adam continues with his descendants for hundreds of years. It is a ‘fast forward’ of more than one thousand years to Enoch who did not die. “Thus Enoch was well-pleasing to God, and was not found, for God translated him.”

The difference between Cain and Enoch in profound. In the case of Cain, God protected him from others, but did not stop his suffering in the world. In the case of Enoch, God received him into heaven before death. Again, we should take note. God never abandons us, but when we are ‘well-pleasing’ to Him, He blesses us.

Enoch is remembered several times in the Holy Scriptures when descendants of the righteous is included. You will remember the Sunday before Christmas when the Church reads the ancestors of Christ, we hear Enoch mentioned. We don’t hear Cain unless we are hearing about the murder.

Yesterday’s list of descendants ended with another murder. Today’s list ends with another person ‘well-pleasing’ to God. Our salvation is the story of righteous men and women who were well-pleasing to God. It isn’t a story of perfect people by any means. It will be a story of people who are dedicated to pleasing God even when they screw things up.

More importantly, these are the ancestors of God. If there are the ancestors of God, they are our ancestors. It is good to know who they were. It is good to know how God’s plan for our salvation included them.