During the past two weeks, the first reading at daily Mass has been from the beginning of the Book of Genesis. We heard the story of creation and we heard of the creation of Adam and Eve, made in the image and likeness of God. Adam, and Eve were given dominion over all of creation.
We also heard of the entrance of sin into the world with Adam and Eve’s disobedience of God. The windows in the nave of the church, on the right as you face the altar illustrate scene and figures from the Old Testament and the first of these windows, in the back of the church, illustrates Creation and Adam and Eve.
The plants, animals, and birds which God created are represented in the window along with Adam and Eve. The serpent, who tempted Eve to disobey God, is descending from above and Eve is offering the fruit of the tree of which they were forbidden to eat, to Adam. Adam is reaching for the fruit, and at the same time, his other hand and the expression on his face suggest that he is thinking about what he is about to do. They both freely chose to disobey, and were banished from their life of intimate closeness to God; but God still loved and cared for them.
Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam and Eve. Cain was a farmer, and Abel was a shepherd. They offered a sacrifice to the Lord, Cain from his crops and Abel from the best of his flock. The Lord was pleased with Abel’s offering, but not with Cain’s and out of jealousy, Cain killed his brother.
The window illustrates Abel offering his sacrifice to the Lord. It is a pane in the God the Father rose window. Abel is wearing a cloak of animal skin with the hair visible. The ram’s horn in the lower corner indicates that he is a shepherd. His left hand is offering his sacrifice, the best animal of his flock. Purple is a prominent color in the window and represents the royalty and divine authority of God, to whom he is making this offering. The flames that consume the offering are in the background. God sees Abel’s sacrifice and from the eye, representing God, a ray of light shines with God’s favor upon Abel.
Each of us has been created in the image and likeness of God, and we have also been given a free will that we might freely choose to love and serve God. But like Adam and Eve and Cain, we often choose to follow our own ways instead. The story of Adam and Eve in Genesis does not end in despair, but rather in the promise of a Savior. (Gn 3: 15-16) And the story of Cain and Abel also ends with the hope of redemption, for God protects Cain from those who would kill him to avenge Abel’s death. (Gn 4: 13-16) We will soon enter the season of Lent, a time of turning back and growing in our relationship with God. Lent will prepare us to celebrate again, the death and resurrection of Jesus, our Savior. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to show us how we might draw closer to Jesus during this holy season of Lent.