A Lenten Thought

I have been working on a couple of Bible studies for our church's 40 Days of Faith series- a series in which we are all focusing together on Hebrews 10-11 on Sundays and in our Bible studies in preparation for Easter and during Lent. Several things have really hit me powerfully- especially Hebrews 10:19-11:1 which I recommend rereading to anyone at all interested. But the other thing is Hebrews 12:24- which says "You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which graciously forgives instead of crying out for vengeance as the blood of Abel did." (NLT)

Abel is the first person listed in Hebrews 11 as an example of a person of faith and his act of faith was giving a sacrifice that was pleasing to God (Genesis 4:1-8). After that though, his brother Cain was jealous and killed him and Cain and God have this interchange:
God: Where is your brother? Where is Abel?
Cain: I don't know! Am I supposed to keep track of him wherever he goes?
God: What have you done? Listen-- your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground! You are hereby banished...

On Sunday, when taking communion- I found it so profound that Jesus' sacrifice doesn't have that same vengeance with it.