thursday, June 8, 2023

 Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time 

(Tobit 6:10-11.7:1bcde.9-17.8:4-9ª); Mark 12:28-34)

In case anyone is wondering Tobias does survive his wedding night with Sarah.  Presumably they enjoyed a long, happy marriage.  Although the Book of Tobit cannot stand up in importance to Genesis or the prophet Isaiah, it does confirm significant truths.

First, the story of Tobias and Sarah underscores the goodness of sexual love in the context of marriage.  Where spouses have a permanent, exclusive commitment to one another, their physical union brings them spiritually closer.  If a child results, she or he is more likely to be raised in a supportive environment.  Second, the story also demonstrates the capacity of prayer to secure divine support.  God knows human needs without the person praying telling Him.  Nevertheless, prayer opens the human soul to discern God’s loving action.

Many marriages nowadays are almost as frightening as the one between Tobias and Sarah. There is less social support to assure stability.  Yet marriage is still invaluable for both the couple and society.  The couple makes a commitment that will help each mature.  Society is strengthened as the couple set down roots that bring about growth in number and virtue.

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

 Wednesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

 (Tobit 3:1-11a.16-17a; Mark 12:18-27)

Today’s first reading gives glimpses of two people who feel despised.  The pious, old Tobit has insulted his wife who turns around and calls him a fraud.  The young beauty Sarah senses that people ridicule her because multiple husbands have dropped dead on their marriage bed.  Both petition God to let them die.

Many today contemplate suicide out of similar feelings of depression.  Those who feel ashamed about their sexual inclinations often fall into this category.  They need to be assured that they are good and loved. 

In the Scripture story God responds to both petitioners’ pleas -- not with an angel of death but one of life.  He sends Rafael to match Tobit’s son Tobias with Sarah and, then, to guard their marriage bed.  In the process Rafael will find a solution to Tobit’s problem.  We should try to act in such helpful ways when we meet people in need.  Kind words will lift their hearts.  A touch on the hand or arm may reassure their self-worth.  We can see ourselves also as God’s agents assisting in His response to the distressed.

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(Tobit 2:9-14; Mark 12:13-17)

Today’s gospel demonstrates Jesus’ astuteness and, more importantly, his wisdom.  He sees through his opponents’ pretenses to their desire to trap him.  They ask whether a Jew should pay the Roman tax.  If Jesus says, “Pay the tax,” he would lose the people’s favor.  If he says, “Don’t pay it,” he may have soldiers tracking him down.  Of course, his solution avoids both unfavorable consequences.

Jesus also tells his adversaries to give God His due.  This debt cannot be paid in a lump sum but requires due attention every day.  Humans are to praise and thank God for His blessings.  They are also to appeal to Him for their needs.  in short, they are to develop a close relationship with the Lord.

Often we worry when we should trust.  We should see every challenge that we face as an opportunity to seek God’s favor.  Expressing our dependency, we draw closer to God, who is hopefully our destiny as well as our Creator.

Monday, June 5, 2023

 Memorial of Saint Boniface, bishop and martyr

(Tobit 1:3.2.1a-8; Mark 12:1-12)

Tobit, like St. Joseph, obeys the law, come what may.  In today’s reading he not only buries the dead, but also waits for the holy day to end before doing it.  In doing so, he defies orders of temporal rulers and inhibitions of kinsmen.  Jews as well as Christians see such actions as meritorious.  Today’s patron, St. Boniface, provides another example of such righteousness.

Boniface, English by birth, zealously preached the gospel among German pagans.  Once he defied pagan sensibility by cutting down an oak tree thought to be divine.  The act led to a mass conversion.  Named archbishop, Boniface established multiple monasteries and dioceses.  He was eventually martyred.  He is recognized as the patron saint of Germany.

We live in a time of social upheaval.  Sexual activity outside of marriage is not considered wrong; it is even expected.  We need people to defy the new social convention.  Parents and teachers ought to tell of the beauty of intimate relations when reserved for marriage.