Tobit is one of my favorite books in the Bible – A father-son story – A very special marriage – A protective traveling companion — Faith, persistence, hope, and gratefulness – all based on love.
The Scripture reading for Wednesday morning of Week I for the Liturgy of the Hours is taken from the 4th chapter of Tobit. It highlights a few sentences from a long chapter that lays out a beautiful bit of fatherly advice to a beloved son. It is a wonderfully succinct statement for how one might live out their baptismal call. The selection for morning prayer reads as such:
Do to no one what you yourself dislike. Give to the hungry some of your bread, and to the naked some of your clothing. Seek counsel from every wise man (woman). At all times, bless the Lord God, and ask him to make all your paths straight and to grant success to all your endeavors and plans. Not a bad personal mission statement!
We have been following this week the bitter-sweet story of Tobit and his family: trials, misfortune, tragedy, and a miraculous marriage. Today’s episode features the healing of Tobit’s blindness, the reunion of son and parents, and the safe arrival of their new daughter-in-law Sarah. For all these blessings, Tobit is grateful and praises God “with full voice for everything that had happened.”
At each Mass, we, along with the rest of our fellow worshippers, bring our stories – of trials and sometimes misfortune, gifts, and miracles, hurt and healing, challenges and growth, offenses and reconciliations, faith and hope, worries and concerns. For all of it, may our prayer be that of Tobit’s: Blessed be God, and praised be his great name!”
Let Us Pray:
Dear Lord, in the midst of it all, may I treat others right this day; give of my bounty to those with less; seek counsel from those wiser than me; ask your blessing on all my plans; and live my day in gratefulness.
