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 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.
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