“Where Is Your Brother?” (Gen 4:9)

A Narrative Revisitation to the Episode of Cain and Abel

Abstract

This article seeks to do a spiritual and existential reading of the episode of Cain and Abel (Gn 4:1-16) in three essential steps: the delimitation
and structure of the text, some considerations from the narrative sequence, and foregrounding some theological elements to enlighten our
everyday routine. The author tries to demonstrate that free and mysterious choices of God may be an opportunity to rouse our self-control and maturity in the direction of the alterity (otherness/Other). Although this chance may be wasted. Towards God’s own example, we are invited to be keepers of our brothers (who are helpless) as a way of restoring the human family.