I was in Holy Hour last night and chanced upon a passage from Genesis:

Genesis 4:6-7
So the LORD said to Cain: “Why are you so resentful and crestfallen?
If you do well, you can hold up your head; but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door: his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master.”

Setting aside the whole thing about Cain and the First Murder, this passage offers an interesting comment on the dangers of resentment.

To resent something means to relive a hurt or wrong done unto you and to nurture that feeling.

It is seductive as it can make you feel like a “victim” and worthy of pity and therefore a just reason for keeping the wound bleeding.

It is dangerous as it will weaken your sobriety as you will lack serenity (or stable emotional well-being). It is also dangerous as it may cause you to sin. Resentment will open the door to a temptation to sin and Satan is always on the prowl looking for a weakness to exploit and thus lead you away from God.

Get over it, or if that’s honestly too hard, work towards getting over it. In a way, the fact that the next scene in Genesis 4 involves Cain murdering his brother Abel is appropriate. Sin can be a deadly thing, particularly if is a mortal one. See 1 John 5:16 –

If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray.

Remember:

1 Peter 5:8 –

Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour.

Don’t let yourself get devoured.

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