Memorial of Saint
Charles Lwanga and companions, martyrs
(Tobit 3:1-11a.16-17a; Mark 12:18-27)
The sixteen year-old was in deep trouble. He had broken a law and feared being punished. Unfortunately, he had isolated himself from
peers. Although he sometimes talked with
teachers, evidently they were not available during his crisis. Rather than face up to what he did, he threw
himself in front of a train. Today’s
long first reading describes Tobit and Sara as being similarly depressed.
Like the tragic youth, Tobit is liable to be pursued by
the authorities. Moreover, he has
contracted a condition of blindness and in his misery has alienated his wife. He will not kill himself but prays to God to
end his life. Sarah’s condition of having
seven husbands expire on her marriage bed sounds far-fetched. But certainly many forlorn lovers have
contemplated suicide. She too remembers
the Lord in her distress. The story
unfolds as melodrama with God sending an angel to aid in response to their
anguished pleas.
Perhaps when we are tried, we will not find an angel at
the door to help us. But our prayer will
not go unheeded. Like Tobit we will come
to a better understanding of how our sinfulness has brought us to where we
are. More importantly, our world will
not end. We can count on God to resolve our
predicament in His merciful love.
