Daily Catholic Lectio
Mon, 17 February ‘25
Sixth Week in Ordinary Time – Monday
Genesis 4:1-15, 25. Psalm 50. Mark 8:11-13
Why seeking a sign?
In today’s Gospel reading, the Pharisees approach Jesus and begin to argue with Him, demanding a sign from heaven. However, Jesus refuses to give them a sign.
In the first reading, we see that God places a mark (sign!) on Cain to protect him from being killed.
What is a sign?
A sign is primarily a symbol—a visible mark that directs our minds toward something unseen.
For example, a national flag is a sign. When someone sees it, they do not just see colours and patterns; instead, they think of the country it represents. However, signs by themselves are weak—without knowledge of its meaning, a flag is simply a piece of cloth with colours.
Similarly, Jesus Himself is the greatest sign—His teachings, miracles, and way of life all reveal who He truly is. But instead of recognizing Him as the sign, the Pharisees demand another sign from heaven—perhaps a voice from the sky or a miraculous light.
Jesus refuses to perform a sign for them.
Why?
Because they are not seeking faith; they are trying to test Him. If He had given them a sign, they would have mocked and dismissed Him as a mere magician.
The power of saying ‘no’
Even though Jesus had the power to perform a sign, He chose not to. This teaches us an important lesson: Sometimes, the right response to a challenge is to say, ‘No.’
True inner strength or spiritual freedom allows a person to resist pressure. Jesus did not feel the need to prove Himself through unnecessary signs. If He had performed a miracle just to convince the Pharisees, He would have reduced Himself to a mere entertainer. Instead, He remains firm in His mission. He never wanted to be a people-pleaser.
Cain’s sign: A lesson in fear and mercy
In the first reading, Cain falls into temptation.
When God accepts Abel’s offering but rejects Cain’s, Cain becomes angry and jealous. Jealousy leads to anger, and anger leads to murder. After killing his brother, Cain begins to fear for his own life. He becomes a wanderer, fleeing from the land he defiled with blood.
Yet, God does not abandon him. Instead, He places a sign on Cain—not as a punishment, but as a mark of protection. This shows that even after sin, God’s mercy remains.
What can we learn?
(a) True faith does not need external signs – The Pharisees missed the true sign, which was Jesus Himself. Saying ‘no’ is sometimes necessary – Like Jesus, we must know when to resist unnecessary demands.
(b) Spiritual freedom or inner freedom gives strength – Those with inner strength and self-control do not need to prove themselves to others.
(c) God’s mercy is greater than our failures – Even when Cain sinned, God still protected him.
Today, let us ask ourselves:
Are we seeking God with a sincere heart, or are we testing Him?
Are we anchoring our faith in Jesus, or are we waiting for extraordinary signs?
Do we have the inner strength to say ‘No’ when necessary?
True faith does not need signs—only trust.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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